Redditch United 2 Feckenham 3

TENANTS are forever troublesome to their landlords and so it proved last night at the Valley where Feckenham won in a hastily-arranged friendly.

The Millers relished a chance to have a crack at their higher league bedfellows and Reds boss Rod Brown used the game to give his squad some much-needed match practice.

In a game of three halves, with the managers opting for 30 minute periods, both sides chopped and changed with Brown in particular taking the chance to look at some of his club's promising youngsters.

A 'jackets down for goalposts' air prevailed with Feckenham forward Brian Powell cast in the role of that bloke who always turns up and takes it too seriously.

His enforced substitution after 36 minutes was followed by a chat with the ref before coming out for the final stretch.

Feckenham drew first blood and never looked back after teenage Reds keeper Chris Scott spilled a Dean Meyrick cross and Carl Fairhurst took advantage after ten minutes.

The hosts struck back on 37 minutes, finally beating the impressive Dave Inman when Richard Field headed home a Mark Swann centre after good work from debutant Lea Shaw.

And it could have been two when slack defending at a corner was seized upon by the predatory Paul Danks close in but Darren Tarver blocked on the line.

Richard Hadley headed wide when it would have been easier to score seven minutes later but United failed to heed the warning and the Midland Combination Premier hopefuls were back in front when former Studley and Alvechurch favourite Dean Meyrick was nudged over in the box by Paul West.

Fairhurst fired past Scott left-footed from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way to claim his second.

Brown sent out a youthful-looking forward line for the final third but it was Feckenham who stretched their lead in the 62nd minute with a sweet finish from Justin Dankenbring.

Lurking outside the area, the sweeper got the ball he was hoping for when Redditch half-cleared a corner and he volleyed it back with venom to extend the Millers' lead.

It wasn't quite 'next goal wins it,' but young Steve Evans gave Brown something to think about with a rocket from the right hand side of the area to reduce the deficit on 67 minutes.