Southern League PLay-off Final

Merthyr Tydfil 0

Redditch United 3

THE prize was massive - a win and they would play Conference football next season.

But before kick off there was a calm and confident mood about the players and staff as they stepped from the coach to the pitch.

The pressure was all on Merthyr - they were the ones who had it all to lose - they were the team who had just one point to their name in the last six games.

But Merthyr, who had a bye in the play-off semi final, also had the home advantage coupled with typical Welsh weather.

Pennydarren Park looked like a shell of its former self - the intimidating atmosphere almost guaranteed before Saturday was more like a whimper as the Martyr's failed to inspire their normally vocal fan base.

And to that end they crumbled at the feet of United who were not in the giving mood.

Bang on 10 minutes United was a goal to the good.

Skipper Mark Taylor's first corner was met by the left boot of Richard Leadbeater and the celebrations started.

Richard Burgess, United's saving grace in King's Lynn, was then carried off the field on 21 minutes after a nasty challenge on the left wing forcing manager Rod Brown into his first change of the day.

Mark Shepherd was Burgess' replacement and since his return to the Valley from Solihull Borough he looks a different player.

And he showed his quality after latching on to Richard Leadbeater's cross and gave no chance to the Tydfil keeper Neil Thomas.

So United were two to the good at the break and their defence hadn't really broken into a sweat.

Merthyr manager Andrew Beattie wanted to change that and brought on his top scorer, Cortez Belle, for the second half.

The strapping centre forward looked like a handful but the Reds defence mastered him masterfully.

And once that was completed the Martyr's had nothing left in the tank and were as resigned to defeat as the announcer was who asked: "Would all Redditch fans please keep off the field after the game" with a good 15 minutes to go.

But by this time the Reds had netted their third again through Leadbeater after he showed some Alex Cowley-esque skill to avoid his man and slide the ball home in front of the massive Redditch support.

And as one Tydfil fan blasted out the Last Post on his trumpet referee John Farries blew his whistle and Redditch were promoted again.

Redditch United: Richard Anstiss, Neil Manton, Matty Gardiner, Mark Taylor, Gary Knight, Richard Softley, Danny Scheppel, Martin Myers (sub Sean Flynn 70), Richard Leadbeater, Richard Burgess (sub Mark Shepherd 21), Alex Cowley (sub Craig Woodley 80) Subs not used: Scott Voice, Matty Hall.