FORMER fans' favourite Nicky Cross scored on his playing return at the Valley Stadium last night with United drawing 3-3 neighbours Studley in a hastily-arranged friendly.

BKL's Alliance game at home to leaders Stratford was postponed yesterday because of a waterlogged Beehive pitch and the visitors unveiled their new 40-something striker after his move from Dr Martens Western outfit Sutton Coldfield Town.

Redditch manager Rod Brown was keen to give his players much-needed match practice after numerous weather-enforced postponements were followed by a frustrating blank weekend.

United lost 3-1 at third placed Weston on Saturday but were set to be without a league fixture until Tuesday, when they visit Stourport in a highly-charged Worcestershire derby (ko 7.30pm).

Brown has insisted the match is no more significant then any of the remaining Dr Martens Western fixtures but with Swifts accusing their former manager of illegal approaches and lodging a mischievous seven day approach for former star Lee Booth, the derby is a potential flashpoint.

The forward in question is in the midst of an eight match goal drought and would love to break his Reds duck against his former employers.

Although the former Stourport hotshot recorded a hat-trick last night.

Brown, a former striker himself, said Booth was lacking in confidence after the run and it was obvious when he missed a potentially point-saving penalty at the seaside.

The weekend defeat turned out to be United's game in hand on their fellow strugglers with the basement battle between Swindon Supermarine and Rocester and Warwick's game against Atherstone postponed.

Defeat leaves Redditch in the bottom three and four points short of Brown's 26 point survival target.

United will be determined to rectify that at Walshes Meadow but will have to reverse a shocking away record which has seen them win just once away all season, at Atherstone.

Stuart Grosvenor made his debut for United on Saturday, coming off the bench for the injured Danks, who was a doubt last night, along with defender Nigel Niblett, who was again absent with flu.

Injury-plagued defender Paul West has left the club to rejoin Evesham United after turning down a loan spell with Midland Alliance bottom club Oldbury United.