Lancaster City 1 Redditch United 2

SUPER Simon Hollis struck a goal in each half to earn Redditch the points in this relegation scrap.

But he had to show nerves of steel to net the winner after he was ordered to retake a penalty, the referee disallowing his first effort after a player had encroached into the area.

It was Lancaster who started the brighter though and had two good chances to open the scoring inside the opening five minutes.

Aaron Halliwell was first to try his luck but fired wide on four minutes with Ryan Ellerton sending an effort just over the bar moments later.

With 14 minutes on the clock, Lee Foxcroft went closer still for the league's basement side, firing a shot against the upright.

Having weathered the early storm, the Reds began to edge their way back into the game and Richard Ball was close to breaking the deadlock on 18 minutes, chipping the ball over the keeper only for his effort to clear the top of the bar.

Carl Heggs then tried his luck with an effort that clipped the crossbar but United were then caught out by the home side.

Seven minutes before the break, Foxcroft pounced on a loose pass and rounded keeper Richard Anstiss before firing home.

But this is a Redditch side with belief and they were back on level terms five minutes later, Hollis finding the net direct from a corner.

Anstiss was called into action again on the stroke of half-time when Lee Sparkes let fly following a mistake in the Reds defence.

Chances were at a premium early in the second half, the sorry state of the pitch not helping either side.

United manager Gary Whild made a double switch with 25 minutes to go, Richard Softley and Scott Rickards entering the fray. And their arrival seemed to lift the visitors as skipper Carl Palmer let fly with a 25-yard effort that flew just wide of the target.

Another good save from Ellerton kept Lancaster at bay on 70 minutes and, just two minutes later, United had bagged the winner. A ball into the area was handled by Robert Henry and Hollis calmly slotted home the penalty at the second attempt.

HOLLIS was also on target from the spot in their midweek 2-0 victory over Nuneaton Borough.

Redditch were the better side and should have opened the scoring on 18 minutes only for Ball to be twice denied by visiting keeper Darren Acton.

Hollis chalked up the opener on 21 minutes, drilling home his penalty after Boro striker Gez Murphy had handled at a corner.

But the killer punch came on the half-hour. Carl Heggs, making his Redditch debut, unleashed a 35-yard effort that soared above Action and into the roof of the net.

Another fine Acton save denied Chris Murphy a third Redditch goal before the break while the best Nuneaton could offer was a late Tom Curtis free-kick that sailed wide of the goal.

Reds: Anstiss 7, Petty 6 (Softley 60, 7), Whitcombe 6, A Walker 6, Geoghaghan 7, HOLLIS 8, Palmer 7, Murphy 6, Taylor 6 (Rickards 60, 7), Ball 6, Heggs 6. Subs (not used): D Walker, Deakin, Rea.