Redditch United put four past Malvern Town in the FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying Replays on Monday evening, settling a tie that had finished level after the first meeting. The hosts sealed progression at home with a performance that left little doubt about the outcome. 4:0 on the night, and the replay was no contest.
By then, Malvern Town had already shown they could hold their own. Two days earlier, the visitors went to Redditch and drew 1:1, taking points from a side that had beaten Coventry United 3:1 just weeks before. And here's the thing — when you come to a place like Redditch expecting a cup replay to be tight, you need to be ready for something different.
Malvern's run before this tie had been mixed. They lost 1:2 to Rushall Olympic and went down 0:3 at Bromsgrove Sporting, though they held Worcester City to a goalless draw. To be fair, the visitors had shown they could compete, just not always finish what they started.
Redditch came in with momentum. Their form before the initial 1:1 had been solid — wins over Evesham United and Gainsborough Trinity, a draw with Long Eaton, and that draw against Malvern themselves. By then, the hosts knew what to expect from this particular fixture.
The result puts Redditch through in the cup. Malvern Town's season continues elsewhere, after a run that showed glimpses of promise but not enough consistency. The scoreline reflects a team that took its chances — something Malvern couldn't match on the night.