THERE were joyous scenes at the Trico Stadium on Saturday after Redditch United ended a 25-match losing league sequence with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nuneaton Borough.
The Reds are still all but certain to suffer the drop from Southern Premier Central but Saturday’s maximum-point haul – United’s first since a 2-0 win at local rivals Alvechurch in late August – provided welcome relief for the club’s players, management and supporters.
On the back of an improved showing at Stratford Town, Redditch were keen to impress against a Nuneaton side still with an outside chance of securing a play-off place.
However, things did not begin well as former Aston Villa midfielder Isaiah Osbourne netted his first goal for Borough to give the Warwickshire side a deserved lead after 23 minutes.
Reds keeper Kieran Boucher – surely the club’s player of the season following a series of impressive displays – had already made a fine save to deny Riccardo Calder, but Redditch hung in there admirably and showed intent of their own when Ryan Edmunds struck the post from 20 yards out.
The hosts drew level on 54 minutes when striker Romario Martin bagged his first goal of the afternoon with a low strike and Nuneaton were left stunned two minutes later when slack marking allowed Boubakar Traore the chance to convert from close range.
Borough had a glorious chance to restore parity just after the hour mark when Callum Powell was dragged down in the box but the forward was denied from the resultant penalty when Boucher dived low to thwart him.
With the visitors pouring forward in search of an equaliser, Redditch hit them on the counter-attack as Martin made it 3-1, rendering Miles Addison’s late goal a consolation.
The Reds are due to visit Leicestershire side Barwell on Saturday.
