REDDITCH UNITED (2) 3 Rocester (1) 1

NICKY Cross celebrated his 39th birthday two days early with a spectacular goal to seal victory for workmanlike Redditch.

The former league professional conjured up a 20-yard curler out of nothing to underline Reds' status as promotion dark horses.

Manager Rob Smith made five changes from the side involved in the midweek penalty victory over Kidderminster as the Reds went in search of victory.

And it could have been more convincing as they had numerous opportunities to score, but unfortunately most of them fell to the unlucky Adam Nicholls who was constantly thwarted by the Rocester defence.

Just 33 seconds had gone when the passed fit Richard Field launched a throw in into Rocester's box which was allowed to carry Nicholls to give him a strike on goal, but a superb reaction save from visiting keeper Robert Plant and the woodwork denied the midfielder.

The game then drifted into a midfield war of attrition with neither side troubling the keepers until Rocester took a shock lead after 24 minutes.

Andy Bott stole in between Tommy Byrne and Pete Barry to latch on to a long ball and lob a stranded Dave Adey.

But this sparked the game into a frenzied spell with three goals in as many minutes.

Redditch immediately responded when they were awarded a free kick outside the Rocester area. Craig Love played it short to Neil Manton to deliver a low cross, which was stabbed home at the far post by Richard Field for his first goal for the club.

Sixty seconds later the Reds netted again, when Paul Danks controlled an awkward ball before going round Plant to fire home from 15 yards despite the efforts of two Rocester defenders.

Danks could have added to his tally on the half-hour, as the in-form striker was left one-on-one with Plant but the keeper saved smartly at Danks' feet.

Rocester attempted to get back on level terms before the break but were denied from a corner by the alert Adey.

Adey was again in the thick of the action five minutes after the restart when he was forced to rush out of goal and dive bravely at the feet of Andy Bourne.

It was a decisive moment as four minutes later Cross scored his 11th of the season to seal the Reds victory.

Redditch pushed forward looking to increase the lead with Danks and substitute Jamie Hart teeing up Nicholls for strikes, which were blocked each time.

Rocester rarely threatened the home side's goal, but Richard Owen did force another fine save from Adey when he pushed the midfielder's 20-yard free kick away for a corner.

Redditch: Adey, P Moore, Smith (Williams 68), Barry, Manton, Byrne, Field, Nicholls, Cross (Hart 68), Love, Danks. Sub not used: Randall.

Attendance: 255

Man of the match: Danks