Redditch United 3, Hitchin Town 2

Super-sub Danico Johnson struck a late double to help the Reds see off promotion rivals Hitchin Town.

The striker was only on the pitch for 20 minutes but made an impressive impact in the absence of suspended Jazz Luckie as his goals steered United to a fourth straight league win and to within touching distance of leaders Poole Town – Tuesday’s Valley Stadium visitors.

With both defences in control, first half chanced were few and far between. Mason Spence should have done better for the visitors with a free header which he directed straight at Reds keeper Jose Veiga from six yards while George Carline went close with a header at the other end.

The breakthrough came three minutes into the second half when livewire Hitchin midfielder Jonny McNamara beat two players before managing to steer his shot beyond Veiga from a narrow angle.

The visitors’ exuberant celebrations resulted in a melee and three players entering referee Robbie Dadley’s book – United’s Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and Hitchin pair McNamara and Brett Donnelly.

For all their possession, the home side were having problems finding a way past Canaries’ central defenders Dan Webb and Lewis Rolfe.

But that changed on the hour when skipper Ashley Sammons curled an excellent free-kick around the wall and into the top right-hand corner.

Johnson’s arrival brought a new dimension to the Redditch frontline and with ten minutes to go he showed a cool head to steer home Robbie Thompson-Brown’s low cross into the six-yard box.

With their noses in front, the Reds began to take control with Carline and Sammons linking up well in midfield.

And it was Sammons who laid on the third goal for Johnson, his inch-perfect pass dissecting the Hitchin defence for the substitute to nip in and guide the ball beyond advancing keeper Charlie Horlock.

Skipper Callum Donnelly instantly reduced the arrears, scoring within 20 seconds of the restart, but with the game already deep into injury time, the Reds saw out the remainder for a vital victory to edge to within three points of leaders Poole with a game in hand.

Reds: Veiga 6, Bako 6, Cullinane-Liburd 6, CARLINE 8, Flanagan 8, Richards 8, Thompson-Brown 7 (Young 90+1), Loveridge 6, Shearer 6 (Molyneux 77), Sammons 7, Hallahan 6 (Johnson 69, 7). Sub (not used): Bridgewater.