By LEE McLAUGHLAN

REDDITCH UNITED (1) 3

Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 1

TWO late strikes by substitutes Micky Moore and Mark Smith saw Redditch complete the double over their neighbours.

The Reds were given the perfect start when they took the lead after just 34 seconds when Nicky Cross bagged his 13th goal of the campaign.

He was indebted to fine work down the left wing by Paul Danks, who having beaten his man, laid the ball off to Cross who turned his marker on the edge of box allowing Cross the opportunity to fire home past a bewildered Mark Jones in the Rovers goal.

Redditch were in the ascendancy for the majority of the half but failed to build on their lead as Ian Bennett was denied on four occasions.

The first, on 12 minutes, saw Jones pull off a fine save from the former Tamworth man as he latched onto a Danks pass.

Jones was again equal to the task as he stopped Bennett's 18th minute long-range strike and thwarted him again four minutes before the break.

Having not been in the match for the opening 45 minutes, Rovers were a more potent side in the second half forcing Redditch back.

Mark Benbow should have equalised just a minute after the restart when Tom Davies' free kick was flicked into his path by Mark Bowater, but Benbow planted the free header wide of the post.

A minute later, Rovers were given a lucky escape when Danks was brought down in the penalty area by Bowater but referee Tanner waved the appeals away.

This finally kick-started this local derby into action as Danks was denied with a last-ditch tackle by Bowater, while at the other end, Neil Manton was forced to head over his bar under pressure.

Just past the hour Rovers surged forward and were denied a deserved equaliser when Ryan Daley's 20-yard strike hit a post with Adey well beaten.

But Rovers stuck to the task and were rewarded in the 64th minute after Redditch gave possession away while deep in the Rovers half.

Former Red Pete Sutton put John Humphreys away down the right wing and his cross from the by-line was met by Daley who crashed the ball against the bar but Jamie Turpin was on hand to score from six-yards.

Stunned into action, Redditch stepped up a gear with substitutes Paul and Micky Moore and Mark Smith all playing their part.

Paul Moore was instrumental in the Reds regaining the lead seven minutes from time when an adventurous run down the right saw him cut infield beating two defenders before striking for goal.

But he was denied by an excellent save from Jones who pushed it onto the post but he could do nothing as the rebound fell to Micky Moore to net from close range.

A minute later Reds sealed victory when a quick throw in on the far side of the field saw Cross lay the ball into the path of Smith, who dummied a defender before curling in a stunning goal from 25-yards.

Redditch: Adey, Manton, Reece (P Moore 65), Barry, Pugh, Williams, Field, Nicholls (Smith 37), Cross, Danks, Bennett (M Moore 73).

Attendance: 404

Man of the match: Pugh