Cirencester Town 2 Redditch United 1

A LACK of confidence, fight and discipline proved a toxic mix as Redditch were beaten by relegation-haunted Cirencester.

Jordan Cullinane-Liburd was the villain of the piece, reacting to Aidan Bennett’s shove in the back by pushing his opponent to the floor by his neck and subsequently receiving his marching orders five minutes into the second half.

Bennett was harshly given the same punishment for instigating the incident but in truth, it made little difference to a weak show from United who were left shell shocked by a goal after 10 seconds.

Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls dallied on a pass and played straight into the feet of Dan Demkiv who cut in and unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive into Brad Catlow’s top right corner.

Bennett thumped wide and then failed to connect with powerhouse Alan Grffin’s downward header as the Centurions threatened to run riot.

Reds debutant Arjun Jung, signed on Thursday from Burnham, was hauled off after 21 minutes in a tactical switch and playing three at the back did at least stem the tide.

Redditch’s only chance of the half came when Dior Angus latched on to a loose clearance but thumped straight at Glyn Garner 11 minutes before the interval.

Despite kicking up a significant slope, the hosts were brighter from the start of the second half before the flashpoint between Cullinane-Liburd and Bennett.

Cirencester continued on the front foot and notched a vital second on 68 minutes when Griffin bullied Duane Courtney before substitute Kieran Diaz-Benitez lofted back in for Griffin to bundle home at the far post.

Reds scored a sublime team goal 12 minutes from time when Catlow’s long punt was flicked on by burly debutant striker Hafeez Sanusi and into the path of Luke Keen whose clever footwork and cross was headed back across Garner by Angus.

The visitors appealed for a penalty when Sanusi was nudged in the back during the latter stages but Redditch rarely threatened an equaliser.

Reds: Catlow 6, Jones 5, Brown 5, Loveridge 5, Courtney 4, Cullinane-Liburd 3, Jung 5 (Dhillon, 21, 6), Bailey-Nicholls 5 (Keen, h-t, 5), Sanusi 6, Angus 6, Benjamin 5 (Hussain, 62, 5). Unused subs: Mahmood, Campbell.