Redditch's poor run goes on with Dunstable defeat

REDDITCH United’s post-Christmas slump continued at Dunstable with a third straight league defeat.

Adam Pepera’s 17th-minute header ultimately separated the mid-table sides in a dour clash at Creasey Park.

Since tucking into their festive turkey, United have scored just three goals en route to registering two points from five matches to leave them 11 points shy of the Southern League play-off places.

Reds boss Darren Byfield made one change to his starting XI with goalkeeper Luke O’Reilly, who the club announced had signed on a temporary basis from Cardiff City on Saturday, replacing regular custodian Brad Catlow.

The visitors made light of the blustery and difficult conditions to edge the opening exchanges, albeit without making much headway in the final third.

Dunstable landed the telling blow when Pepera’s finish from a corner was out of O’Reilly’s reach and the rest of the first half was played out without incident.

United were again on the front foot after the restart and this time created more. Dior Angus unleashed a shot which flashed narrowly wide from the edge of the box 10 minutes into the second half.

Max Loveridge, one of two half-time substitutes brought on by Byfield, then teed up Angus to fire over just past the hour mark but the bright patch proved a false dawn.

O’Reilly was called upon to punch away from the top corner a shot from distance as Dunstable tried to seal their success before a series of late Redditch corners came to nothing.

Reds: O’Reilly 6, Jones 6, Dhillon 6, COURTNEY 7*, Brown 6 (Mehmood, 75, 6), Mutton 7, Benjamin 6 (Loveridge, h-t, 6), Bako 7, Keen 6, Angus 6, Singh 6 (Cullinane-Liburd, h-t, 6). Unused subs: Morris, Catlow (g/k).