REECE Flanagan’s emphatic finish handed Redditch United the deserved derby day spoils against local rivals Bromsgrove Sporting.
Redditch looked a threat on the counter attack all night and scored the only goal when Flanagan clinically found the roof of the net in the first half at the Victoria Ground in front of 824 supporters.
After an impeccably observed minute’s silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, Bromsgrove made a bright start as Ryan Edmunds’ flashed a free-kick across the face of the Redditch goal.
However, a succession of Redditch corners led to a goalmouth scramble in the Sporting box with Max Sheaf’s eventual effort well blocked before Jack Byrne shot wide from distance.
Sporting responded when Kieron Dawes delivered a cross from the right that was headed well wide by Sweeney at the back post.
And Redditch went straight up the other end as Flanagan saw his effort comfortably held by Ollie Taylor in the Rouslers goal.
The teams continued to trade chances when space opened up for Edmunds 25-yards from goal as he dragged a shot just wide of the left-hand post.
And Bromsgrove came forward again soon after as James Fry forced Redditch goalkeeper Kieran Boucher to push his effort from 25-yards to safety.
However, Redditch took the lead on 28 minutes when Flanagan lashed an effort home at the back post as he ran onto Bernard Mensah’s cut back from the right.
The visitors broke forward and had a chance to double their lead only for Mensah to curl a shot well over the bar from outside the penalty box.
Thomas Baillie’s men looked for a response when Sweeney chased a ball down the channel before cutting in from the left and curling a short a couple of yards over the crossbar.
The Rouslers introduced Joe Curtis at half time in place of Ammar Dyer having struggled to create a clear cut chance in the first period.
And the home side almost drew level when Sweeney looped a header back across goal and narrowly over the crossbar.
However, Redditch spurned a great chance to double their lead when the ball broke kindly for Mensah in the box as Taylor made a crucial stop before Bromsgrove scrambled the ball to safety.
And the Reds almost found a second goal when Sporting gave away possession deep inside their own half with Ryan Boothe’s shot tipped behind by Taylor diving low to his right.
Bromsgrove looked a threat from aerial balls all night and came closest to finding a leveller when George Forsyth’s header went inches wide of the right-hand post.
And Forsyth missed the target with a free header from close range moments later after Edmunds delivered another superb cross into the Redditch box.
On another day, Forsyth could have had a hat-trick as the midfielder spurned yet another free header at the back post from Miro Pais’ cross from the right.
Sporting failed to seriously trouble Redditch in the second period as Matt Clarke’s side held on for a well-earned three points.
