A brace from Matty Stenson helped the Bucks to a 2-1 win over Redditch.

The first half was a scrappy affair without too many clear cut chances. The Reds started well and were the better side in the opening stages. But the one real moment of quality in the half came in the 29th minute when Ellis Myles played a neat one-two with Jimmy Armson before sending in a pinpoint cross for Matty Stenson to head home his 20th goal of the season. And that was about that for the first half; the Bucks heading into the break 1-0 up.

Kevin Wilkin’s started the second half with more of a spring in their step, and it wasn’t long until the Bucks doubled their lead. This time it was former Redditch man Jordan Cranston who whipped a corner into the box, and Stenson got up to plant another header in the net to make it 2-0.

At that stage, while whe Bucks weren’t at their best, Wilkin’s men were largely untroubled by the Reds, at least from open play. Redditch posed a threat from set pieces though, with Jack Kelly’s delivery troubling the Bucks all day. And it was Kelly himself who scored the goal that got the Reds back into the game; the Redditch left back scoring direct from a corner in the 71st minute.

Matt Clarke’s side then began to grow in confidence and were well and truly banging on the door, but the Bucks stood up well to anything that the Reds could throw at them. Wilkin’s men might have added a third on the counter attack in added time, but after some good work from Max Brogan, he could only fire wide with Lewis Trickett perhaps better placed.

The Bucks saw the game out to win 2-1 and claim a welcome three points that lifts Wilkin’s men up to 2nd.