NEW signing Rory May had a dream start in a Redditch shirt as his two goals helped United into round two of the FA Trophy.

The 6ft 5ins striker who has also played at Lincoln City and made one appearance while on loan at Coventry, netted before and after the break to hand the Reds £1,800 in prize money and set up an away tie with Wakefield-Emley in the next round.

Valley Stadium has again been the setting of more ins and outs than the hokey cokey this week as month-long Tamworth loan striker May was joined by 14-year professional Steven Cowe after he was released by Nationwide Conference side Forest Green Rovers.

But the 30-year-old former Swindon striker was missing from the Reds line-up against Merthyr Tydfil because he was ineligible to play.

Meanwhile, midfielder Jordan King has left Bromsgrove Road as has winger Rob Taylor who made an appearance in a Stourport Swifts shirt on Saturday.

Reds manager Rod Brown said the banana skin against Southern League Premier outfit Merthyr had been avoided.

He said: "It was a good result for us because it had the potential to be a banana skin but I knew if we played anything like we can then the game was ours."

"The pleasing thing for me was that we restricted them to very few shots at target throughout the game."

But the Reds boss has not been satisfied with his side's recent performances in the Nationwide North and revealed this as the reason for the new players.

Brown said: "We have been picking up good results recently but our performances in the past three games has not been of a high enough standard that's why I've decided to bring in a couple of players.

"The good thing about Steve is he can play in a variety of positions in midfield or as a striker and you need that kind of ability from players in this league."