Redditch Utd 2, Frome Tn 0

Rampant Redditch romped to their fourth straight victory thanks to a two-goal blast from super-sub Jamie Spencer.

The striker, signed in the summer from Rushall Olympic, missed the start of the new season through injury but made a dramatic debut – scoring just six minutes after leaving the bench.

The Reds had struggled to break through a dogged Frome side and poor finishing and some decent saves from visiting keeper Darren Chitty snubbed out any opportunities they did create in front of goal.

But all that changed once Spencer joined the fray 20 minutes from time as he put in a cameo performance of such quality that it earned him the Man of the Match award.

On 76 minutes a blocked shot 20 yards from goal saw the ball balloon up in the air and he scissor-kicked a volley into the roof of the net.

His second came a minute from time as he pounced on an underhit back-pass before rounding the keeper to double the lead.

Injury time almost saw him complete his hat-trick but this time Chitty did well to keep out a low free-kick.

Jamie Molyneux and Jermaine Hylton had provided the main threats early on for the Reds, the former having a shot blocked in front of goal with Hylton putting an effort wide when well-placed. Chitty was also called in to action to save Calum Flanagan’s powerful free-kick just before the break.

It was a similar tale in the second half with Jordan Jones firing an effort just too high before Ashley Sammons curled a shot the wrong side of the post.

And when Molyneux was denied by another decent Chitty save, it looked as though the visitors had held on for a point.

But the introduction of Spencer changed all that and the Reds head to Hereford United on Bank Holiday Monday knowing that a win could take them to the top of the Southern league Premier table.

Reds: Hornby 7, Jones 8, Flanagan 8, Oshungbure 6 (Spink 62, 7), Mutton 7, Scarr 7, Sammons 8, Loveridge 7, Molyneux 7 (SPENCER 70, 8), Hylton 7 (Ahenkorah 77), Carline. Subs (not used): Caines, Maye