Gateshead 2-0 Redditch United

Redditch boss Gary Whild (left) has a battle to hold on to his better players

Redditch United were well beaten in their Blue Square North match against Gateshead at the International Stadium.

Wayne Phillips and Lee Novak scored the home side's goals as an inexperienced Redditch side were put to the sword.

Reds coach Carl Heggs told BBC Hereford and Worcester the financial problems at the club were taking effect.

"We had a 17-year-old on the bench and an 18-year-old on the wing and a lad up front who was playing Sunday football last week," he said.

"That's the future for the club - to bring in young, inexperienced players and it's down to me to coach them."

Despite being under the cosh for much of the first half, it looked as though Redditch had done enough to go in all square at the interval, but Gateshead's Phillips popped up to give the home side the lead in stoppage time.

It just seems like every time that we have a good player come through the ranks, someone comes and takes him.

Carl Heggs

Novak finished off a neat Gateshead move seven minutes after the break to make it 2-0 and there was to be no way back from there for the Reds.

Heggs said the club's financial problems were threatening to derail his and manager Gary Whild's plans for the season, but he insisted they will battle on as best they can.

"I wouldn't say that I have got the hump about it because that's football," he said. "But it would be nice if we were in a situation where we could keep the players.

"It just seems like every time that we have a good player come through the ranks, someone comes and takes him.

"That's football, but trying to get a team spirit when players are coming in or going out is quite difficult."

Scott Rickards has been back with the Valley Stadium club for the past two games, but it appears as though his most recent spell with the Reds will be a brief one.

Solihull Moors have put in seven days notice of their intention to sign the striker and he could be a Moors player in time to figure against Redditch over the festive period, when the sides will meet twice.

Heggs fully appreciates the irony of this situation, but said he has made it clear to Solihull that he will not be doing them any favours over the player.

"They [Solihull Moors] asked if we would waive the seven days but I told them 'no chance'," he said. "So he won't be playing against us on Boxing Day, anyway."