Redditch United 5, Evesham United 2

By David Lawrence

RAMPANT Redditch lifted the Worcestershire Senior Cup after storming to a 5-2 victory over Evesham.

Star striker Jermaine Hylton stole the show with a goal in each half and was only denied a deserved hat-trick by a goal-line clearance in injury time.

The Reds made the perfect start, scoring twice in the opening ten minutes.

Omari Sterling-James was first on the scoresheet, neatly gathering an Omar Recci through ball and then lifting his effort over keeper Louie Barnfather.

Four minutes later and it was 2-0 as Hylton raced on to another through ball before placing his shot wide of the Robins keeper.

Ashley Sammons was denied by a good save from Barnfather five minutes later before Leavi Oshungbure crashed a header against the upright as the Evesham defence struggling to cope with Liam McDonald’s side.

The Calor South West club came more into the game towards half-time with Lance Smith forcing keeper Sam Hornby into a fine low save and Nathan Jackson putting an effort over the crossbar.

On the stroke of half-time, Nathan Jackson bundled home a free-kick from six yards but any hopes Evesham had of lifting the cup were well and truly dashed by a mad two minutes early in the second period.

On 50 minutes, Robins defender Jamie Sauntson and keeper Barnfather stopped, thinking the ball had gone out only for referee Marvyn Amphlett to wave play on and Jamie Molyneux slotted home.

And with his teammates still smarting, James Bowen saw red for a challenge on Redditch’s Sam Youngs.

From then on it was one-way traffic as Valley Stadium side piled forward.

An inch-perfect pass from Molyneux sent Sammons clear to make it 4-1 on 62 minutes with Hylton then scoring his second two minutes later after an Oshungbure pass had split the Evesham defence, Lance Smith pulled a goal back on 76 minutes with a well-struck free-kick before Molyneux and Hylton were denied further goals late on.

Reds: Hornby 7, Recci 7, Caines 7 (Ahenkorah 67, 6), Oshungbure 8, Flanagan 8, Clarke 6, Youngs 6 (Young 72), Sammons 7 (Bridgwater 72), HYLTON 9, Sterling-James 7, Molyneux 8. Subs (not used): Catlow, Sowe