Redditch United 2 Kettering Town 1

IT may have taken more than two months but it was well worth the wait for the Redditch fans who saw this Valley Stadium victory on Tuesday night.

The Reds have been picking up points on their travels but home form has been shocking with just one win in nine ... and that one was way back in September!

And the biggest crowd of the season was there to witness a display filled with the passion that has so often been lacking in this campaign.

Kettering boss Paul Gascoigne watched silently from the touchline as his side slumped to their first defeat since the former Spurs and England maestro took charge.

Jermaine Clarke was the first to test the visitors. A last ditch tackle from Poppies skipper Craig McIlwain denied him in the fourth minute but three minutes later the powerful striker held off two defenders only to fire wide from 20 yards.

Having soaked up the early pressure, Kettering then pushed forward and Christian Moore saw his effort blocked before Neil Midgley drove one straight at home keeper Nathan Vaughan.

The breakthrough came on 26 minutes. The tireless Simon Hollis drilled a low cross into the area from the right and Scott Rickards powered the ball into the roof of the net from six yards.

But it was United's second 10 minutes later that changed the face of the game. A deep ball into the box from Mark Taylor found Kettering keeper Mark Osbourne rooted to his line and Clarke was able to loop a header just under the crossbar.

Trailing 2-0, the visitors made a double substitution at the break but failed to trouble the Redditch goal as Rod Brown's side defended superbly - Matt Clarke sweeping behind central pair Mark Creighton and Scott Dann.

Rickards could have added a third on the break for Reds but blazed over from the edge of the area.

The final minute saw Kettering net a consolation, James Gould finding the net from a narrow angle, but United held on for a deserved victory.

Reds: Vaughan 6, M CLARKE 9, Charlton 7, Creighton 7, Dann 7, Taylor 6, Hollis 8, Broad 8, J Clarke 6 (Moore 81), Rickards 7, Wilding 8. Subs (not used): Pearce, Feely, King, Cornelius.

Kettering: Osbourne, Nicell, Morley, Hall, McILWAIN, Diuk, Burgess (Patterson 46), Theobold, Midgley (Zico-Black 46), Moore, Gould. Subs (Not used): Attwood, Thompson, Difante.

Referee: Mr G Law (Leicester)

Attendance: 752