A third goal in four games from Harry Vince, this one eight minutes from time, enabled the city side to move up to fifth place in the Southern Premier Division Central. It was the perfect antidote to what Ducket described as a ‘dire’ display in Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with rock-bottom local rivals Stamford AFC.

The win extended a season-long unbeaten away run in the league. Sports have now won five and drawn four of their nine matches on the road as they seek an immediate return to National League North.

The city side might not be fifth when they return to action on November 21 against third-placed Bromsgrove Sporting at PIMS Park though. There is a near full programme of matches on Tuesday night, and some teams have two games before Sports play again, but the break will enable Ducket and his staff to work on the availability of key players.

Sports match report from Redditch

“We were down to the bare bones at Redditch,” Ducket told Peterborough Community Radio after the game. “Five important players couldn’t make a Monday game, but the boys who did play were absolute class.

"It was a totally different display to Saturday. We dominated the ball, made Redditch work hard to get it off us and showed exactly what we can do when we are at it.

"I was really happy with the players who managed the game against a good side at a tough venue fantastically well.

"Harry Vince is a credit to himself and the club with the way he has come back from several career injuries. He played as a right wing-back in this game and we had Jevani Brown as a left-back, while Ben Beresford and Luca Miller had not played up front together before.

"It’s difficult to understand why we haven’t been given a game on Saturday, but we will now work Thursday, Saturday, Tuesday to get ready for a tough game against a very strong Bromsgrove side. We still have lots to work on.”

Top scorer Leon Lobjoit and key defender Conor Wood were among the Sports’ absentees last night.