Redditch United 3

Nuneaton Boro 0

GOALS have been something of a rarity for Craig Wilding this season. The Redditch striker has managed just four in 26 games and his penalty miss at Leigh last weekend made it 11 without scoring for the former Stafford marksman.

But his second half double against Nuneaton's FA Cup heroes on Saturday was just reward for the hard work put in by the frontman.

The only disappointment for Wilding was in seeing another effort deflected against the Nuneaton crossbar for a hat-trick would have been well deserved.

Boro may have had their minds elsewhere - they were due to meet Middlesbrough in their FA Cup replay last night - but Redditch still needed to be at their best to defeat a side 18 places above them and with promotion ambitions.

Fans favourite Richard Anstiss was back in goal and produced a confident display. Carl Palmer was also back in the side after knee surgery had kept him out for more than four months.

But it was central defender Mark Creighton who was the star of the show. Former England star Gareth Southgate may have had problems containing Boro front two Brian Quailey and Gez Murphy when Middlesbrough were held at Manor Park but Creighton was more than up to the task as he, together with Asa Charlton, formed a formidable partnership.

The game was evenly balanced for much of the first half with Wilding and Simon Hollis having first half efforts for Reds while Anstiss did well to block a Quailey shot.

Then with two minutes of the half to go, Mark Taylor swapped passes with Jermaine Clarke before side-footing the opening goal between Nuneaton keeper Darren Acton and his near post.

The visitors had a good chance to level 10 minutes into the second half when Frew sent Matt Collins through on goal but he fired wide under pressure from Charlton.

Hollis sent a shot over the Nuneaton crossbar before Reds doubled their lead on 68 minutes when Wilding beat keeper Acton to a through ball and slid it into the empty net. The Boro keeper was lucky to escape with just a yellow card after kicking out at Palmer as the Redditch midfielder went to join the celebrations. Wilding was also booked and now faces a ban after collecting five yellow cards.

Four minutes later Wilding was denied by the crossbar and when the rebound fell to Scheppel, the Redditch substitute's fierce volley was brilliantly saved by the Nuneaton keeper.

Another Scheppel effort flew over Acton's goal as Redditch looked for a third goal to finish off their visitors. It duly arrived on 82 minutes when Wilding pounced on some sloppy defending to power his shot past the advancing keeper.

Hollis should have added another a minute from time but shot wide after pouncing on a weak back header from Nuneaton skipper Neil Moore.