MANAGER Darren Byfield says momentum is key as his Redditch United side look to close the gap on the Southern Premier League pacesetters.

The Reds made it back-to-back league wins thanks to a 4-1 win at Cambridge City last Saturday.

Sixth-placed United are now 11 points off leaders Slough and just six points away from second-placed Leamington, who they were due to face at the Valley Stadium tonight.

A trip to Dorchester Town follows this Saturday with Redditch keen to put an unbeaten run together.

"It is important that we build some momentum," said Byfield.

"We want to keep building each week and put a run of games together now to close the gap on those above us."

Against Cambridge, 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 league outings 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.

"It was a good win," added Byfield. "We didn't play our most attractive football because the pitch wasn't in the best condition. But we adapted well."