REDDITCH United’s search for reinforcements to halt a dismal run has brought a return to the club for Notts County defender Tyreece Kennedy-Williams.
The Reds are desperate to plug the defensive frailties which have led to 19 goals being conceded in the three games under new boss Duane Darby.
But Darby has signed the 18-year-old from County on an initial loan until February 12. He has a spell at the Trico earlier in the season, starting once.
Subject to Southern League approval, he will be set to feature on Saturday when the Reds head to St Ives Town in a clash between the two bottom sides in the Southern Premier Central.
Bottom-of-the-table Redditch have not taken a league point since beating Alvechurch on August Bank Holiday Monday while Bedfordshire side St Ives sit three points above them.
With half of the team being filled by academy players, Redditch conceded six goals in last week’s two fixtures, being thumped 6-0 by Leiston at the Trico last Saturday before going down 6-1 at lower league Evesham United in the Worcestershire Senior Cup.
Redditch had their opportunities early in Monday’s quarter-final but Evesham showed them how to finish, with Paul Sullivan and Lee Chilton both bagging hat-tricks.
Sullivan opened the scoring on 16 minutes with a neat turn and shot from the edge of the area.
Redditch were not without chances of their own in an even opening period but they lacked a clinical edge and it was 2-0 on 27 minutes when ex-Red Harry Franklin crossed for Sullivan to head home at the back post.
Sullivan’s treble was completed four minutes later when his right-footed strike from 18 yards found the bottom corner, but Redditch gave themselves hope with Jamie Lucas’ close-range finish soon afterwards.
However, Chilton made it 4-1 before the break with a 20-yard shot and the former Alvechurch midfielder completed his hat-trick with two more strikes.
On Saturday, the Reds had slipped to their 11th league defeat in a row after being ruthlessly dispatched by fellow strugglers Leiston.
The Suffolk side only had a single goal to show for their first-half efforts with Tom Debenham tapping home after four minutes.
The visitors should have been out of sight at half-time, and they duly sealed the points with John Sands completing a hat-trick, including a stunning strike from the half-way line over keeper Kieran Boucher. Byron Lawrence also netted before Debenham added a sixth goal eight minutes from time.
