REDDITCH United’s recent slump in form continued after the Reds were thrashed 4-1 at home by Ilkeston Town to condemn Matt Clarke’s side to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions.
Max Sheaf grabbed a late consolation for the Reds after Ilkeston had struck twice either side of half time with Remaye Campbell, Finn Delap, Kieren Fenton and Lee Tomlin all on target at the Trico Stadium.
The result means Redditch sit ninth in the Southern League Premier Central table.
And the visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when Campbell struck a penalty into the bottom right corner just beyond the fingertips of goalkeeper Kieran Boucher after Adulai Sambu was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box.
Ilkeston doubled their lead just two minutes later when Delap fired a shot through a sea of bodies and into the net after Redditch were only able to partially clear the away side’s initial corner.
Redditch started brightly in the second period as Luke Ward’s header from Reece Flanagan’s corner hit the base of the left-hand post before Sheaf curled an effort against the same upright moments later.
However, Ilkeston grabbed their third goal on 63 minutes when Fenton headed in from Joseph Wilson’s corner to settle the game as a contest.
And a poor mistake at the back from Ward saw his pass across the box intercepted by Tomlin who played a one-two with Chris O’Grady before the former Football League star slotted an effort past Boucher at his near post.
The Reds scored a consolation goal on 84 minutes when Sheaf did well to keep the ball alive inside the six-yard box before finding the net whilst Harvey Gregson hit the woodwork late on with Clarke’s side unable to halt their recent dip in form.
Redditch are next in action at home to Hednesford Town on Saturday, December 10 with kick-off at 3pm at the Trico Stadium before the Reds return to the same venue to host Needham Market on Monday, December 12 with kick-off at 7.45pm.
