Cambridge City 1 Redditch United 4

STRIKER Luke Shearer finished with a goal, two failures to convert from the penalty spot and three points on an eventful return to the Redditch ranks.

Reds secured a fourth win in five Southern League Premier Division outings to remain on the cusp of a play-off place on a day that saw both teams reduced to 10 men at Westwood Road.

Shearer scored following Danico Johnson’s pass with five minutes on the clock but was left with his head in his hands when his cheeky chip from the penalty spot dropped into the grateful arms of stationary keeper Enol Ordonez.

Matters seemed set to take a turn for the worse when Reds defender Duane Courtney was given his marching orders for catching an opponent with a flailing elbow and from the free-kick, Tunde Adewunmi stroked under the wall to level.

But the numbers were evened up when City’s David Femiola picked up a second booking before half an hour had been played with United moving back in front in first-half stoppage time.

Johnson was fouled in the box and took took responsibility to net from 12 yards to hand his side a precious lead at the interval.

The drama continued on the hour when Redditch were awarded a third spot-kick as Shearer was upended by Jon Kaye but having returned to penalty duties, he hit the post.

Livewire Johnson scuffed horribly wide when one-on-one with Ordonez with 20 minutes to play but Reds made sure of the points when substitute Paul Apostocopoulos neatly tucked home following Johnson’s surge into the box five minutes from time.

And the seal was put on a fine win in the fourth minute of added time when Max Loveridge curled an audacious lob over Ordonez from 35 yards.

Reds: Catlow 7, Young 6, Brown 7, Loveridge 7, Cullinane-Liburd 8, Courtney 4, Shearer 7 (Apostocopoulos, 76), Hales 6 (Spink, 63, 6), JOHNSON 8*, McDermott 6 (Thompson, 67, 5), Hewitt 6. Unused subs: Roberts, Washbourne.