Tividale boss Dave King hails his comeback kings

Tivi came from two goals down to win 4-2 at Bilston Town at the weekend, thanks largely to striker Demetri Brown’s hat-trick.

The victory sees them remain third in the West Midlands Premier table – four points behind leaders Malvern Town, with three games in hand.

Sporting – who are fourth, six points points behind Malvern, with six games in hand – go to AFC Bridgnorth at 7.45pm, looking to take over Tividale.

“It was a great win for us, I’m so chuffed with the lads,” said boss King on the triumph at Queen Street.

“The lads took a lot of criticism after the 2-1 loss at Wednesfield, our last game before that – and rightly so.

“So to bounce back like that, after going 2-0 down with everyone there gunning against us, was great. We went 2-0 down after starting really slow.

“It wad a heated game and the lads showed great character and strength to pull through. Once we got the equaliser, we knew we would go on to win it.”

Bilston went ahead with their first effort on goal, 13 minutes in.

A crisp strike from Kartel O’Neil-Martin went through a group of players and into the back of Ryan Cheshire’s net.

The hosts doubled their lead soon after from the penalty spot. O’Neil-Martin made no mistake, sending Cheshire the wrong way, for his second of the afternoon.

Tivi were back in the game before the half-hour mark when Joe Lawley put through Brown and some hesitation from Bilston keeper Victor Pinheiro allowed the Tividale frontman to round him and side-foot home.

They pulled level just prior to the 70-minute mark.

Tividale substitute Dan Smith played in Brown and he hammered the ball past Pinheiro.

Brown then put King’s men ahead and completed his hat-trick when he pounced on a mistake by Bilston defender Todd Perry and finished with a clinical strike past Pinheiro.

Tivi sealed the points when Brown was brought down by the hapless Pinheiro and Lawley gave the visitors a two-goal advantage from the resulting spot-kick.

On Sporting’s game against Bridgnorth tonight, King added: “This title is Wolves Sporting’s to lose, let’s be fair.

“They’ve got a very good squad and it’s very much theirs to lose.

“We’ve just got to try and focus on ourselves. We’ll keep an eye on their result, that’s all we can do.”

Also in action tonight are Wednesfield and Wolverhampton Casuals, heading to Shifnal Town and hosting Stone Old Alleynians respectively.

Casuals were one of the few sides to play on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Pegasus Juniors. Cradley Town beat Bridgnorth 1-0.

In Division One, Wyrley were thrashed 8-0 at Wem Town. They are bottom and aim to respond in the League Cup tonight, facing fellow strugglers Willenhall Town.