BROMSGROVE Sporting suffered their heaviest-ever derby defeat after losing 3-0 against local rivals Redditch United.
Goals from Reece Flanagan, Matty Warburton and Danny King at the Valley Stadium condemned Sporting to a seventh straight defeat against the Reds in front of 1,227 spectators.
Sporting also had striker Luke Benbow sent off late on after he received a second yellow card for a high boot.
And the three-goal margin of defeat is Sporting’s heaviest against their local rivals.
Redditch almost took the lead in the first few minutes when Aram Soleman slipped in Alex Cameron only for Sporting stopper Adam Harrison to make a crucial save.
The Reds went close again moments later as Liam Loughlan sent a half volley inches over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.
Sporting responded with a chance of their own as Kobe Hall hooked an effort wide in a frantic start to the derby clash.
And Aksum White then went on a mazy run from deep inside his own half through the heart of the Redditch defence and in the penalty area only for Soleman to make a vital last-ditch tackle.
However, Redditch broke the deadlock on 31 minutes when Loughlan flicked the ball into the path of Flanagan who forced the ball home from close range following a scramble in the box.
The Rouslers looked to respond to the setback when Benbow flicked a long ball into the path of Billy Shaw who shot wide from a tight angle.
United doubled their lead four minutes into injury time at the end of the first half when Flanagan’s initial effort deflected into the path of Warburton in the box who coolly found the bottom left corner via the aid of the post.
Bromsgrove looked to reduce the deficit before the break as Benbow saw his free-kick from 20-yards out saved behind by Tyrese Warmington.
However, the Reds extended their lead just four minutes after half time as King finished on the rebound after Harrison kept out Cameron’s initial effort when one-on-one.
United looked to stretch their lead as Harrison tipped Cameron’s effort from a tight angle behind for a corner while Benbow blasted a low effort wide at the other end.
The Reds had the ball in the net again soon after only for Cameron to his effort ruled out for offside.
The game went from bad to worse for Sporting when Benbow received a second yellow card on 76 minutes after he caught Aaron Roberts in the face with his boot when competing for a loose ball.
