Poole Town 0 Redditch United 1

ZAC Sirrell marked his first start for Redditch United with the goal to emphasise their promotion play-off credentials in Saturday’s Evo-Stik Southern Premier match of the day on Saturday.

The new signing from Westfields grabbed a 15th-minute goal to seal victory at second-placed Poole as the Reds moved up to third position in the table.

It was a mix of quality and determination as Liam McDonald’s men, now unbeaten in six matches, had to play the final half an hour with ten men after Calvin Dinsley was sent off for a second booking.

The Reds had been in control until the red card but then the ten men kept any Poole comeback at arm’s length, with keeper Sam Hornby being rarely tested.

Redditch had seized the initiative from the start and were rewarded on 15 minutes. Ashley Sammons flicked on a throw-in from Joel Caines and Sirrell switched inside to fire past keeper Nick Hutchings.

The Reds had chances to extend their lead. Sammons’ volley went close, Luke Shearer rounded the keeper but the ball bobbled away and Jim Mutton’s header was scrambled away.

Seven minutes into the second half, Dinsley sent Sammons racing goalwards but the Poole keeper smothered the cross as man of the match Simeon Mayo waited to slot home.

But on 65 minutes Poole were given a huge incentive when Dinsley’s foul brought a second yellow card.

The hosts had rarely threatened, though Reds defender Calum Flanagan cleared the danger from Marvin Brookes header and Joe Quigley fired wide in the first half.

Poole went even closer after Dinsley’s red card when the following free-kick brought a scramble and Steve Devlin and Quigley had efforts blocked.

But for all their huffing and puffing, Poole found the Redditch defence resolute and well organised and McDonald’s men were able to avenge a home defeat to the Dolphins in September.

REDDITCH: Hornby 8, Jones 8, Caines 8, Dinsley 7, Mutton 8, Flanagan 8, Maye 9, Sirrell 8 (Phillips, 60, 7), Shearer 8 (Turner, 76), Sammons 8 (Cullinane-Liburd, 78), Carline 8.