Redditch United 2 Gloucester United 3

ANOTHER make-do-and-mend United squad of trialists and youngsters slumped to a 3-2 defeat to a lower division outfit on Tuesday.

Gloucester United ply their trade in the equivalent of the Alliance, a league below the Reds but started promisingly as Redditch took time to settle.

Allen Tatton fired the visitors in front after 11 minutes against a United team featuring seven changes from last season.

Matt Jones was in goal, former Halesowen Town regular Andy Bradley was at left back and University graduate Gavin Barratt put in another assured performance, this time in central defence.

Nicky Cross' son Steve showed promise in central midfield alongside Paget old boy Jamie McWilliams.

RC Warwick hotshot Paul Eden partnered Paul Danks up front and former Solihull defender Danny Anstis played on the left flank.

It was Reds favourite Paul Danks who levelled on 25 minutes, cutting inside 25 yards out before firing one into the far corner past Scott Rose.

But Gloucester were back in front within two minutes when Jonny Meadows hit a 30 yard thunderbolt after Bradley headed a Fred Ward effort off the line.

Richard Field had a dip from a similar distance before Julian Freeman increased the visitors' lead three minutes before the break.

The striker was gifted the easiest of finishes after Barratt fell over his feet rather than clearing in the area.

When Danks was chopped on the edge of the box in the 50th minute he stepped up and belted the free kick into the top right corner past a static Rose.

The introduction of Reds newboys Michael Campbell and Melvyn Martin up front saw them make little headway despite plenty of running.

Freeman beat the offside trap on 61 minutes to be denied by a timely Barratt tackle and Danks had a strong penalty appeal turned down on 76 minutes after being pulled down by Colin Peacey.

Another Reds sub Simon Williams stung Rose's palms with a 40 yard rasper four minutes from time and United shot-stopper Jones saved impressively two minutes from time after Nigel Niblett missed an up and under to give Freeman space and time in the box.