NEW signing Jhai Dhillon struck twice but Redditch United suffered a second successive Southern League Premier Division defeat as they were beaten 4-2 at promotion hopefuls Hitchin Town on Monday.
Redditch, who were also beaten 2-1 at St Ives Town on Saturday, twice battled back from a two-goal deficit, only to see the Hertfordshire hosts restore their cushion and close out victory despite playing the second half with ten men.
Darren Byfield’s Reds have found clean sheets an all too rare commodity this season and such a scenario was never on the cards on Monday as the Canaries made a flying start.
The hosts were 2-0 inside ten minutes after Dan Webb had bundled home Mason Spence’s cross and Matt Lench converted at the far post from Kane Smith’s dipping centre.
Keeper Brad Catlow kept United in the contest with two smart saves before left-sided defender Dhillon – signed from league rivals Dunstable Town on the morning of the match – reduced the visitors’ arrears when he lobbed Town keeper Michael Johnson from the corner of the box after neat approach play from Max Loveridge and Luke Keen.
The goal gave Redditch increased belief and attackers Danico Johnson and Simeon Cobourne both threatened the home goal before the break.
Byfield’s men were given further hope just before half time when influential Hitchin forward Brett Donnelly was sent off for catching Jordan Cullinane-Liburd with a flailing arm – an offence deemed worthy of a second yellow card.
However, the second half did not go to plan for United, who were not helped by referee Paul Forrester generously awarding the hosts a penalty when Cullinane-Liburd was deemed to have impeded Webb.
Ben Walster tucked away the spot-kick in the 56th minute before Redditch enjoyed a slice of luck of their own on 65 minutes when Dhillon charged down Spence’s clearance and the ball looped into the home net.
The best goal of the night was still to come three minutes later when Lewis Rolfe finished a fine passing move to make it 4-2 and ensure there were no further alarms for Hitchin.
On Saturday the Reds returned from Cambridgeshire empty-handed.
United, for whom Catlow saved an early penalty, were 2-0 down through Joshua Dawkin and Danny Kelly goals before Keen’s 64th-minute strike gave the visitors hope.
However, despite plenty of pressure on the St Ives goal, United returned empty-handed.
Byfield, who this week called for more leadership within the ranks, takes his seventh placed side to Basingstoke Town on Saturday.
