Redditch United 2 Dunstable Town 1

IT wasn’t just a vital three points which put the smile on the face of Redditch United boss Liam McDonald after Saturday’s well-deserved victory against Dunstable.

There was the encouraging display of Liam Shearer, who was a menace throughout on his debut, and the positive cameos of fellow newcomers Zac Sirrell and Kyle Turner after they came on as substitutes.

There was also a perfect pick-me-up after the loss of top scorer Jermaine Hylton to Swindon, the flurry of chances, the ‘we shall overcome’ mentality of the side and, just as important, the huge grin from lady luck in both goals.

Simeon Maye’s first, on the half hour, was a freakish cross from the right flank which flew off his right boot over keeper Luke Chambers to leave the wide player with an embarrassed smirk as he celebrated a sixth goal of the season.

Then, after Scott Davies had rifled home a sweet 20-yarder to level on the hour, the Reds roared back again to grab the 76th-minute winner when Dunstable skipper Ben Herd chested a cross from Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and watched it loop over keeper into his own net.

If luck played a part in the goals, then it was a case of fortune favouring the brave.

The Reds had 15 efforts on goal - they struck the woodwork when a full-stretch Chambers flipped an Ashley Sammons shot onto the bar, were denied again when Sammons, three times, and Shearer had efforts saved, and thwarted by brave blocks from defenders to stop goal bound efforts from George Carline and Shearer again.

But victory was just the start McDonald wanted as the fourth-placed Reds prepare for a vital January, which includes top-of-the-table matches with Poole on Saturday and then Truro.

“With the amount of chances we created, it was strange that we scored from a cross that went in and and own goal, but I’ll take that,” said McDonald.

“It showed a lot of mental strength to come back after they equalised and we showed great desire.

“We wanted to start what it s a big month for us with a bang and to get three points against a good Dunstable is very impressive.”

REDDITCH: Hornby; Cullinane-Liburd (Phillips, 79), Mutton, Flanagan, Caines; Maye, Spink, Dinsley, Carline; Sammons (Turner, 75); Shearer (Sirrell, 75). Subs: Oshungbure, Catlow (gk).