REDDITCH United responded to their late 2-1 defeat at home to Nuneaton Borough with a resounding 3-0 win at Stourbridge over the bank holiday weekend.
The Reds looked set to take all three points against early Southern League Premier Central pacesetters Nuneaton only for two goals in the final nine minutes to turn the game in Borough’s favour at the Trico Stadium.
However, Matt Clarke’s side were not to be denied on bank holiday Monday as a brace from Bernard Mensah and a late goal from Ryan Nesbitt secured an emphatic victory against a winless Stourbridge side.
The results mean Redditch sit 11th in the table after six matches.
After a slow first half against Nuneaton, Redditch picked up the tempo at the start of the second period and took the lead on 53 minutes when Reece Flanagan exchanged passes with Nesbitt at a corner before curling a stunning shot into the top-right corner from the left edge of the penalty area.
Chances were few and far between thereafter until Borough substitute Luke Benbow levelled the game on 81 minutes with a superb acrobatic effort into the roof of the net.
And Redditch were then reduced to 10-men after substitute Dylan Hart was shown a second yellow card for simulation despite appearing to be tripped as he drove towards the Nuneaton goal.
Borough made the most of their man advantage to grab the winner in the final minute as Jaden Charles drove an effort into the bottom right corner from 20-yards out to leave the Reds stunned.
However, Clarke’s men quickly picked themselves up for the trip to Stourbridge’s War Memorial Athletic Ground.
And the visitors broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when Mensah picked out the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area to finish off a well-worked move.
Mensah scored his second of the afternoon on 71 minutes with a clinical finish in off the post from Max Sheaf’s neat through ball.
And substitute Nesbitt completed the scoring with a sublime curling shot into the top left corner to wrap up the points.
Redditch are next in action against Rushall Olympic on Saturday, September 3 in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round with kick-off at 3pm at Dales Lane.
