RECENT signing Ryan Boothe bagged back-to-back braces as Redditch United stormed to an entertaining 3-2 home win over Barwell.
The forward had netted twice in last week's 3-1 Birmingham FA Senior Cup win over Leamington at the Valley Stadium.
And Boothe, recruited from rivals Bromsgrove Sporting, was at it again when relegation-threatened Barwell were the visitors in Southern League Premier Division Central last Saturday.
It was Matt Clarke's side's third home victory in a row which had been the perfect response to a run of nine games without a win since late November.
Mid-table Redditch now kick off February with a league trip to Leiston on Saturday (3pm) before returning to the Valley on Saturday, February 8 against St Ives Town.
They will be looking to continue their run of results to resurrect a play-off push.
In front of 430 fans in Redditch, United fell behind to a goal from former Premier League striker Leroy Lita on 18 minutes.
Boothe, voted man-of-the-match by the sponsors, opened his account on 22 minutes from loan midfielder Dylan Thomas' pass.
And strike partner Marvellous Onabirekhanlen put the Reds ahead for the first time two minutes before half-time after turning in Thomas' nod-back from Jack Kelly's inswinging corner.
The lead was extended by Boothe 11 minutes after the break following more chaos created by a Kelly corner but Deen Master demanded a tense finale with his goal for Barwell five minutes from time.
It was midfielder Ryan Inman's last game for Redditch before he takes up a full-time professional contract in Australia.
Meanwhile, Johnny Johnston completed a move from Redditch to full-time National League North outfit Buxton in Derbyshire and he got off to a flying start on his debut.
The 21-year-old, who started his career at Blackpool before a spell with Gloucester City, was in fine form for Redditch this season, scoring 11 goals.
And Johnston scored twice in a 4-1 league win at Marine on Saturday.
Bucks boss John McGrath said of his new signing before the clash: “He’s someone that we’ve tracked for a while. He’s 21, he’s lightning quick and knows where the back of the net is.
"The biggest compliment I think I can pay him is that he wanted to come and play for Buxton and to be full-time as he’s got ambitions to go on higher so he’s a really exciting signing for us.”
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