REDDITCH UNITED began the new year with a heavy 4-0 defeat away at Stourbridge before then conceding two late goals against Banbury United.
The Reds were brought crashing back down to earth with a chastising drubbing at the hands of Stourbridge, having won their two previous fixtures over the festive period.
Gibraltar international Reece Styche netted a hat-trick for the home side before Montel Gibson completed the rout in injury-time.
Styche opened the scoring after 10 minutes when he headed home from close range before doubling his tally when he lifted the ball over Boucher on 72 minutes.
And the striker completed his treble on 87 minutes with a slotted finish following a counter attack with Gibson rubbing salt into the wounds with his curling effort four minutes into time added on.
Redditch produced a much-improved display against league leaders Banbury, who are 14 points clear at the top of the table, matching their opponents up until the final six minutes.
Victor Sodeinde finished from Benjamin Acquaye’s pass on 84 minutes before Lewis Johnson made sure of the points two minutes from time with a header from Acquaye’s perfect cross.
The two results mean Redditch sit 18th in the Southern League Premier Central table – two points clear of the relegation zone.
Redditch travel to Hitchin Town in a relegation six-pointer on Saturday, January 8 with the Reds directly above the Canaries in the table.
Kick-off is at 3pm at Top Field.
