While the scoreline didn't reflect the match, the home side were still worthy victors in a game that saw the Blues end with 10 men, after Wyatt Hill was sent off late on.

The home side took the lead on 14 minutes through Robbie Burns and added a second 12 minutes later through Alex Cameron.

After the interval Luke Ward (70) and Dexter Dudley-Toole (83) flattered the scoreline somewhat, before Adam Mills pulled back a late goal for then 10-man Leiston.

Chris Wigger's side will be looking to get straight back on the front foot, as Bury Town come to the Flannery Stadium on Easter Monday in an eagerly-anticipated derby clash.

Wigger had regular number one goalkeeper Billy Johnson back for the match while defender Eddie Jackson dropped out of defence to be replaced by Hill. Liam Shaw came in to the squad, with the Blues having four named substitutes.

Leiston started well and won a throw in deep in the Redditch half after just 30 seconds but Adam Mills’ ball was quickly cleared up field where the hosts won a free kick but Johnson came out to take the ball and claim.

Johnson then took Danny King’s cross from Redditch’s left side on five minutes. The Blues worked a good opportunity on 11 minutes when Mills latched onto a long ball from Johnson and laid the ball off to Ronnie Blois before the striker gave the ball to Wille Clemons on the edge of the box but the shot was blocked.

A minute later and Blois shot low to Stanley Amos’ left but the keeper got down well to save.

Redditch took the lead on 14 minutes, though, as home striker Robbie Bunn took advantage of a long Amos kick and got in between Blues defenders to shoot into Johnson’s bottom left-hand corner. Liam Loughlan had a chance three minutes later but his effort was well blocked by Kyle Callan-McFadden.

Redditch nearly doubled their lead on 22 minutes but Alex Cameron was just off target.

However, on 26 minutes, a mix up in the Blues defence between Ben Batho and Johnson allowed the hosts to go through and the ball was squared to Cameron who made no mistake to make it two.

Aaron Bishop hit the bar on 29 minutes before Leiston enjoyed a lot of possession before the interval. Jack Manly had a shot that was deflected for a corner, while Seb Dunbar had a shot that hit the bar and Hill shot over.

Blois’ attempt was then turned behind well by Amos and then at the end of the half, Mills and Clemons were booked along with a Redditch player after a scuffle.

Mills’ shot was well blocked two minutes into the second period after a good ball from Leiston’s right side, with the ball coming back to Dunbar who struck the ball wide of Amos’ post.

Batho then nearly got on the end of Dunbar’s cross on 51 minutes before Manly and Callan-McFadden got booked.

Albie Armin nearly headed home a corner just after the hour mark before Blois’ shot was hit straight at Amos from Mills’ cross. The game ended as a contest on 70 minutes when Luke Ward finished well low into Johnson’s bottom left-hand corner after a good home move.

In the 72nd minute, Hill was sent off for Leiston when being deemed last man for making a challenge and the fourth goal came when sub Dudley-Toole was presented with the easiest of finishes after a ball had struck the post.

Leiston got a consolation on 87 minutes when Mills stretched to a Batho cross to get Leiston on the board.

FT: - Redditch United 4-1 Leiston.

Line-ups: -
Redditch United: - Amos, Owen, Foreshaw (sub Richardson 78 mins), Cameron (sub Dudley-Toote 76 mins), Loughlan, King, Ward, Sumnall, Soleman (sub Warburton 67 mins), Bishop (sub Loughton 46 mins), Bunn. Sub not used: - Neeson.
Blues: - Johnson, Hill, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Alexander (sub Jarvis 86 mins), Blois, Manly (sub Frostick 63 mins), Mills, Batho, Clemons, Armin (sub Shaw 86 mins). Sub not used: - Jackson.

Blues Man Of The Match: - Adam Mills.
Attendance: - 543.