REECE Flanagan scored twice from the penalty spot as Redditch United responded to a disappointing weekend defeat at home to Barwell with a win against Basford United at the Trico Stadium.
Flanagan’s spot kicks came either side of a Basford equaliser to secure a 2-1 win after the Reds were beaten 3-1 by Barwell last weekend in which Jack Byrne scored a late consolation.
The results mean Redditch sit third in the Southern League Premier Central table.
And the Reds made a quick start against Basford as Robbie Bunn’s cross was sliced over his own crossbar by Stern Irvine with Bernard Mensah waiting to pounce.
The home side took the lead on 20 minutes when King was brought down in the box and Flanagan made no mistake from the resulting penalty as he slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.
Redditch received a let-off soon after when Kieran Boucher’s miscued clearance fell to Matthew Thornhill who crashed a volley into the side netting.
However, Basford drew level on 37 minutes when Seth Patrick finished off a lovely move with a half-volley into the bottom left corner.
Matt Clarke’s side had chances to regain the lead as Bunn headed straight at Kieran Preston before Danny King shot just wide of the post.
And Redditch eventually reclaimed the lead on 76 minutes when the assistant alerted the referee to a Basford handball in the box as Flanagan dispatched the spot kick into the bottom left corner.
Basford had one final chance to equalise, deep into injury time, only for Boucher to pull off an outstanding save low down to his left and tip a shot onto the post.
However, Redditch produced a below par performance against a struggling Barwell side with chances few and far between in the opening half an hour.
The Reds best chances came at the end of the first half as Flanagan dragged a shot wide before Mensah was denied by Andrew Wycherley.
And King came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when his header hit the underside of the crossbar before the ball was eventually cleared to safety with Redditch adamant the ball had crossed the line.
Barwell made the most of that reprieve to open the scoring in first half injury time as Brady Hickey fired a half volley past Boucher to give the visitors the lead at the break.
And the away side doubled their lead on 50 minutes when Shaquille Master curled a fine effort into the right side of the goal from a short free-kick.
Clarke’s side piled on the pressure and almost found way through when Bunn’s effort was superbly tipped onto the post by Wycherley when one-on-one.
Barwell sealed the win on 81 minutes when Kyle Rowley headed home at a corner before Byrne netted a late consolation when he met Lewis Hudson’s low cross with one minute left to play.
Redditch are next in action at home to AFC Totton on Saturday, October 29 with kick-off at 3pm at the Trico Stadium.
