AARON Bishop scored a hat-trick on debut as Redditch United thrashed Barwell 5-2 to earn a third straight league victory.
Bishop, a recent arrival from Stourbridge, marked his Reds debut with a treble while Alex Cameron and Liam Loughlan also scored for the home side at the Valley.
Barwell reduced the deficit courtesy of a goal from Dan Jarvis while Morgan Owen put through his own net and the visitors had Jevin Seaton sent off late on.
The result means Redditch sit fifth in the Southern League Premier Central table, one point clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off place.
United broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Danny King fired a low cross into the box from the left and Bishop swept a first time effort into the net from 10-yards out.
And the Reds doubled their lead two minutes later as Cameron smashed home from close range after Bishop’s initial header came back off the post.
Redditch extended their lead on 20 minutes when Barwell goalkeeper Finn Osborn missed his kick and Bishop pounced to turn the loose ball into an empty net.
However, Barwell reduced the deficit in first-half injury time as Jarvis curled a first time effort into the top-right corner from the edge of the penalty area.
The Reds restored their three-goal cushion on 72 minutes when produced a clinical finish into the bottom right corner after Osborn failed to properly clear his lines.
Barwell scored a consolation goal two minutes later as Owen inadvertently turned a cross from the left into his own net despite having plenty of time to deal with the danger.
And the visitors finished the game with 10-men after Seaton and Luke Ward clashed off the ball which resulted in the former receiving a straight red card nine minutes from time.
The home side made the most of the extra man two minutes later as Bishop completed his hat-trick with a header back across goal into the bottom left corner from Finn Howell’s cross.
