King’s Lynn 2 Redditch United 1

MATTY Castellan’s late header consigned Redditch United to a third straight Southern League Premier Division defeat at King’s Lynn on Saturday.

Castellan converted from close range Dan Quigley’s flick from a corner with just three minutes to play in Norfolk as the hosts plundered the points.

Having conceded early and after spending a large chunk of the second half on the back foot, Reds were inspired by the introduction of boss Darren Byfield from the bench.

The ex-Aston Villa striker claimed the assist for Danico Johnson’s leveller 12 minutes from time before Castellan landed his cruel blow.

Under-pressure King’s Lynn, seeking their first win of the campaign, settled the nerves after two minutes when Shaun McWilliams headed home on the rebound after in-form keeper Brad Catlow had parried Toby Hilliard’s shot.

Duane Courtney, a menace in the opposition’s penalty area during Tuesday’s match at Kettering, was soon at it again but headed just off target from a promising position as Reds sought a swift reply.

The rest of the half played out with little incident but Catlow was again called upon early in the second half, setting the tone for a tough spell for United.

Linnets striker Jacek Zielonka was twice denied by the custodian with Leon Mettam missing a golden opportunity on the rebound second time around.

Manager Byfield had seen enough and took matters into his own hands, replacing Jazz Luckie up top and the ploy worked well.

Byfield’s deft flick unlocked the home defence with Johnson racing around keeper Alex Street to level matters.

Redditch were in the ascendency and Johnson might have had a second but his header was comfortably gathered by Street.

And having spurned that opportunity, United were punished for not being alert to a short corner routine which resulted in Castellan’s winner.

Reds: Catlow 7, Apostolopoulous 5 (Young, 87), Bako 5, Kelly 5, F Hazell 4, Courtney 5, Hewitt 7, SPINK 7*, Luckie 6 (Byfield, 65, 7), Johnson 6, Hales 4 (Cowley, 25, 5). Unused subs: Loveridge, R Hazell.