Slough Town 1, Redditch United 7

A RUN of six league games without a victory was quickly forgotten as rampant Redditch United smashed seven past Slough Town in an almost faultless performance.

Ashley Sammons and Jermaine Hylton both returned to the side from suspension and injury respectively. The former hit a fine hat-trick with Hylton helping himself to a brace, while Dan Scarr and Elias Katsoloudi added the others.

It had taken 25 minutes for Liam McDonald’s men to break the deadlock, but it was a performance full of pace, fluent football and confidence that eventually tore the hosts to shreds.

Hylton and Sammons had already tested Jake Somerville before the returning skipper struck the opener. Katsoloudi, a midweek signing from Banbury United, with a defence-splitting ball found the run of Sammons, who sold the goalkeeper a dummy before converting.

Redditch’s lead only lasted five minutes, Jake Parsons firing in off Sam Hornby’s post after Jim Mutton’s block had denied Scott Harries.

It wasn’t until a minute before the break that the Reds regained the lead, George Carline got up highest to nod into the path of Hylton who lifted a lovely effort over the approaching Somerville.

The visitors nabbed the all-important third on 59 minutes, great pace and directness from Hylton saw him feed Katsoloudi who finished well from a narrow angle.

The Reds were far from done and as the understrength league newcomers caved in, Redditch were ruthless.

Sammons grabbed his second with a rising strike from 25 yards that Somerville may have kept out on another day.

Five minutes later and Jordan Jones almost marked the occasion with a wonder goal. After Somerville’s tame clearance fell to the wide man, his lobbed effort from 45 yards was cleared from the goalline.

Unfortunately for Slough, the resulting corner saw Scarr power through his markers and rise highest to plant a header in for the fifth.

The Holloways Park side had seemingly not learned their lesson to this point, as an unsuccessful high-line again fell foul to Hylton’s pace - the returning forward then showed Somerville a clean pair of heels as he tapped in.

Sammons rounded off a fabulous individual and collective display with his hat-trick, again assisted by Hylton from the left, he collected the cross before swivelling and smashing home in one motion.

Reds: Hornby 8, Jones 8, Flanagan 7, Spink 7 (Melvin 76), Mutton 7, Scarr 8, Carline 9, Maye 8 (Oshungbure 71), Hylton 9, SAMMONS 9, Katsoloudi 8 (Cullinane-Liburd 71). Subs (not used): Catlow, Caines.