Redditch United 5 Rocester 1

AFTER misfiring on their first outing, Redditch delivered the landslide of goals they have been threatening, overwhelming a shell-shocked Rocester.

Visiting keeper John Edensor will wonder how he managed to let in five goals after an outstanding game which saw him pull off three breathtaking saves before half time.

The pick of the bunch came in the 24th minute with the score 0-0, a fierce Ian Mitchell cross from the right was headed back across goal by Paul Danks but was going wide before Nicky Cross got a head to it only to be denied by Edensor's brilliant one-handed reaction save.

But United looked unstoppable from the off with the three forwards a joy to watch, Danks gave Rocester right back Paul Ede a torrid time, Cross rolled back the years with a powerful display and Neil Beagan persistently twisted and turned his way around a bewildered back line.

With Mitchell sending a succession of fearsome, inviting crosses into the box and Neil Cartwright pulling the strings in his languid style it was only a matter of time.

Danks and Cross went close early on before Andy Bourne charged down another Cross effort in the first ten minutes.

Cartwright and Mitchell were inches wide with piledrivers from 25 and 30 yards and Frost headed a Creighton centre just over before Cross mishit another dangerous Mitchell cross.

Beagan had the ball in the net on 20 minutes but was flagged offside after bundling in a wayward Danks effort and Reds fans began to fear the worst after Edensor denied Cross.

But in the 26th minute Cross broke the deadlock, firing home a Danks pull back after a perfectly-timed charge into the box.

Beagan was denied by Edensor after good work by Danks and the visiting keeper came off his line expertly to clutch another Mitchell ball from the right but Steve Frost on his home debut, doubled the advantage on the stroke of half time, climbing to head home a Mitchell cross.

It was more of the same after the break, Cross toying with Ben Skelton before being denied by Edensor's legs within a minute of the restart.

United claimed a controversial third, three minutes later when Danks deflected a long-range Mitchell effort home with the opposition bench appealing for offside.

Reds keeper Harvey Willetts had to put down his paper and climb out of his deckchair when Rod Hyatt forced him into action with Rocester's first effort on 54 minutes.

Two minutes later it was 4-0 when Cross leaped on a slack ball from the Rocester defence to drive home from the edge of the box.

Beagan shot narrowly wide before Danks made it five, firing into an empty net after the unfortunate Edensor finally ran out of luck, misjudging a Mark Swann ball which rolled through his legs.

Hyatt claimed a consolation in the 79th minute, converting an Alan Somerville centre after Redditch took their foot off the gas, but there was still time for Danks to fire over in the last minute after a pass from sub Gary Hackett.