REDDITCH United stormed up to third in Southern League Premier Division Central with a stunning 3-0 win at mid-table St Ives Town.

Tim Flowers' Reds continue to impress with second-half goals from Johnny Johnston, Billy Shaw and Jaiden White securing success in Cambridgeshire.

Their second successive league win put United just one point behind leaders Kettering Town who have two games in hand after beating League One side and local rivals Northampton Town during their eye-catching FA Cup run.

The Reds head to Kettering on Saturday (3pm) for a big league clash and then host Worcester City in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup quarter-finals next Monday (7.45pm).

At St Ives, Johnston had an early effort held by keeper Dan Wilks but Redditch then needed their number one Callum Smith to keep out a deflected free-kick.

White could not turn home George Burroughs header at the other end before Amaru Kaunda chipped wide for St Ives with Smith advancing.

The hosts scrambled another effort wide during a goalless first half.

Redditch got the second period off to the perfect start on 47 minutes when White found Johnston who rounded the keeper before firing home the opener.

George Atwal fired straight at Wilks from the edge of the box before Shaw struck the second on 52 minutes with a first-time finish from Burroughs' low cross.

Brad Burton scooped another Redditch effort just over but they did not have to wait long for a third when on 61 minutes White found the top corner with an inch-perfect free-kick.

United easily went on to secure the win which helped them up the table.

The resounding success helped shake off the disappointment of losing skipper Jordan Cranston to league rivals AFC Telford United after a seven-day approach.

Cranston joined the Reds on loan from Hereford in January 2024, staying the season and eventually signing permanently at the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

He was appointed captain at the start and scored three goals in the league.

Harry Leeson has also left the Valley Stadium but the Reds have signed skilful attacker Jahvan Davidson-Miller, 26, from Mickleover.

Davidson-Miller started his career with Derby County and then spent four years at Barwell.

Speedy 17-year-old forward Jaiy Leydon has also joined on a one-month loan from League Two outfit Walsall.

He is a highly-regarded prospect of the Saddlers academy, scoring 20 goals last season and six this campaign.