Stratford Town 2, Redditch United 4

Redditch’s perfect start to the new season continued as they made it back-to-back wins with this victory at Stratford.

First half goals from Danico Johnson, Reece Hewitt and Javia Roberts put them in the driving seat before supersub Liam Spink struck a late fourth to steady the nerves.

There was just two minutes on the clock when Johnson forced a mistake from home defender Emmitt Delfouneso and then calmly guided his shot beyond Niall Cooper in the Stratford goal.

Four minutes later and the Reds doubled their advantage. This time it followed a slick passing move with Hewitt providing the finishing touch.

Town seemingly had no answer to this barrage and Clinton Morrison was inches away from adding a third when his ninth minute effort crashed against the foot of the post.

Stratford did regain their composure and duly reduced the arrears in the 25th minute when Will Grocutt floated a cross over from the right and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd rose to head into the net from six yards.

Reds keeper Brad Catlow did well to deny Mike Taylor soon after as home side looked for an equaliser but it was United to added to the scoreline moments before the interval when substitute Reece Hales picked up the ball just inside his own half and, after a powerful run into the area, squared to Roberts who produced another cool-headed finish.

The start of the second half saw Taylor and Delfouneso go close for the home side while Hales forced a good save from Town keeper Cooper.

Richard Gregory hit Stratford’s second on 76 minutes with Catlow then having to push an Edwin Ahenkorah effort over the crossbar.

But it was the under pressure visitors who made sure of victory a minute from the end when more fine work from Johnson saw him win the ball and then set-up Spink who made no mistake from ten yards.

Reds: Catlow 8, Jones 6, Roberts 6, Courtney 7, McDonald 6, Young 6, Hewitt 7, Loveridge 7 (Spink 69, 6), JOHNSON 8, Morrison 6 (Luckie 63, 6), Bako 5 (Hales 26, 8). Subs (not used): Cowley, Dudley