For the second time in a week, Redditch returned from Lincolnshire having suffered a 3-0 defeat, this time at Gainsborough Trinity.

Boss Gary Whild included Damien Markman for his first start, dropping Howard Forinton into midfield to make way for the former Sutton Coldfield frontman.

But the first half was littered with blunders and missed passes from the visitors who failed to test Trinity keeper Arron Reid.

The closest they came was in the eighth minute when Markman latched on to a through ball but blazed his shot high over the Gainsborough crossbar.

Four minutes later and the home side were unlucky not to open the scoring, when Chris Hall raced on to a corner but his shot cannoned off the roof of the bar.

The opening goal came on 27 minutes and followed a good run and cross from Ryan Mallon down the left. The ball was cleared but only as far as Liam Needham whose 25-yard shot slipped beneath the diving body of Reds keeper Danny Lewis.

Trinity doubled their advantage two minutes before the break when Jamie Smith picked up a ball inside the area and, with three defenders watching, placed his shot beyond the Reds keeper.

Redditch did look a better side in the second half and Richard Ball drilled an effort just over the crossbar soon after the restart.

But while pushing for a way back into the game, the visitors were nearly caught on the break. A long ball out of defence saw Smith close in on goal before placing his shot beyond keeper Lewis. But with the celebrations in full flow, the goal was disallowed by the referee who claimed the shot had not crossed the line.

Substitutes Jai Stanley and James Johnson came on early in the half and were joined by another of United's youngsters, teenage defender Chris Dickinson, for the final 17 minutes.

But it was Johnson who proved the liveliest addition to the side, twice forcing saves from the keeper.

Any hopes Redditch had of clawing their way back into the game ended three minutes from time when, from another quick break upfield, substitute Simon Bird fired home.

It could have been more - Lewis produced a good save to deny Eric Graves while Chris Murphy cleared a Richard Pell header off the line.

United's best chance came deep in injury time, the tireless Ball turning and firing goalwards only for Reid to palm the shot around the foot of the post.

Gainsborough: Reid 7, WOOD 8, Drewary 7, Ellis 6, Pell 7, Needham 7, Callery 6 (Graves 19, 6), McMahon 6, Smith 7 (Clayton 75), Mallon 6 (Bird 81), Hall 8. Subs (not used): Anson, Forbes-Swindells.

Reds: Lewis 6, Walker 4 (Stanley 55, 6), Taylor 7, Softley 5, Rea 6, Whitcombe 5 (Dickinson 73), Murphy 6, Downes 6, BALL 7, Markman 4 (Johnson 62, 6), Forinton 4. Subs (not used): Hollis, Anstiss

Referee: Mr D Plowright (Clipstone) 5