10 men Redditch United fell to defeat away at Hitchin Town on Tuesday night despite a late fight back. Harry Titchmarsh and Henry Snee put the visitors in front before Jack Kelly scored late on to fight back.
New signings Josh Endall and Finn Flanagan came into the side for their first game, whilst Nick Clayton-Phillips returned to the squad. Ryan Inman, Marvellous Onabirekhanlen and Lewis Strafford all missed out through injury.
Ollie Taylor was forced into action early on, as Rio Deall went through one-on-one before the goalkeeper superbly denied the Hitchin midfielder. The resulting corner was then blocked off the line by the defence.
Hitchin were dominating the possession in the first half, with Redditch not getting out of first gear. The home side came close again after Lewis Franklin was denied at the back post by Taylor, before the defender reworked it down the right and fired just wide across goal.
Redditch had their first real chance from a corner when NCP curled the ball into the box, which the goalkeeper spilt, and a header was eventually cleared off the line.
The sides entered the break all square, with Hitchin controlling the majority of the game.
Matt Clarke’s side were much more positive at the beginning of the second half and almost took the lead. Brad Burton’s clearance flew over the defence before meeting JJ, the forward ran through on goal, but Seb Stacey saved the dinked effort before Adi Yussuf’s follow up was deflected over the bar.
A few minutes later, JJ drove down the left before taking on his man and shooting, but the goalkeeper once again denied him.
Hitchin would take the lead through Harry Titchmarsh when he was played through the midfield by Stephen Gleeson and fired low into the bottom right corner.
Finn Flanagan was then sent off for a second yellow card, after the midfielder slid into a challenge taking out his man.
The home side continued to apply the pressure as Taylor was forced into a couple of good saves, before substitute Henry Snee turned his man and scored to double the lead.
There was a late fightback from Redditch when Jack Kelly scored at the back post from a corner.
Ryan Boothe and Dylan Thomas both were denied in a goal-mouth scramble before the ball was eventually cleared and the referee blew for full-time.
Redditch United XI: Taylor, Burton, Burroughs, Rowley, Endall, Kelly, Flanagan, Dawkins, NCP, Yussuf, JJ.
Subs: Kirton (65’), Atwal (73’), Thomas (65’), Boothe (65’).
