Redditch United 3, Stratford Town 0

THE Reds booked their place in the third round of the Bigfreebet.com League Cup thanks to a convincing victory over neighbours Stratford.

Manager Darren Byfield made five changes to his line-up from the side that started against Merthyr at the weekend and handed debuts to midweek signing Reece Jacobs and Academy youngster Jack Nicholls when they came off the bench.

Defender Zaqib Hussain opened the scoring on 15 minutes, robbing visiting defender Christian Tudorache of the ball before cutting inside and placing his shot past keeper Louis Connor.

Spencer Weir-Daley had an effort blocked for the Reds ten minutes later while Dan Stokes should have done better for Stratford when he steered a free header over the bar.

As the first half edged towards injury time, Orrin Pendley doubled the lead when he looped a header into the net after escaping his marker from a Pauly Apostolopoulos free-kick.

Jacobs replaced Danico Johnson in the final seconds of the half and was involved in Redditch’s third goal nine minutes after the restart, being brought down inside the area by Dab Summerfield allowing Weir-Daley to drill his penalty into the roof of the net.

Keeper Ethan Ross was rarely tested with the experienced Marcel Simpson impressing. And when Dean Poulson found himself in space ten minutes from time, an excellent tackle from Gui Mailancol denied him.

Reds: Ross 6, Rosser 6, Hussain 6, Mailancol 5, Simpson 7 (Stares 74), Pendley 6, Billingham 6, Belmonte 5, Johnson 6 (Johnson 44, 6), Apostolopoulos 5 (Nicholls 72), WEIR-DALEY 7. Subs (not used): Angus, Monteiro