Express & Star

Rangers are back leading the title race

Reigning champions Claregate Park Rangers have regained pole position in the Beacon Sunday League.

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However, last season’s top flight winners were pegged back in their latest Concentric Property Beacon Championship clash as newly promoted Trysull Tigers hit back to grab a battling point in a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 draw, writes Dave McLean.

It was yet another encouraging performance from the young Tigers, who trailed 2-0 late on until Tom Hudson struck a fine double to earn his side their eighth point in six games.

While Claregate, whose target men were Kane Lewis and Kyle Matthews, moved a point clear of Sedgley and Gornal United (they have a match in hand) at the top, Trysull now occupy third spot. Jimmy Harris also excelled as Trysull’s last line of defence.

While this was the only fixture played in the top tier no fewer than four went ahead on a very wet October Sunday in the Paycare Development Division as it ‘rained’ goals with no fewer than 38 scored.

There were 15 flying in as visiting Dudley Rangers United hit double figures in a 10-5 drubbing of Health Direct.

As Dudley moved into the leading four they had Sam Collier leading the goal spree with three, supported by Joe Snipe, Callum Campbell (both two), Nick Bythaway, Jake Anslow and Tyler Charris. Best in reply were Kash Ismail (three) and Derrell Williams with two.

Taking over top slot were Wyrley Athletico as they went nap at home to Gornal Rangers. Alex Stokes bagged a hat-trick and James Archer and Sam Foreman made it 5-0.

Sedgley Rangers are now occupying third place after hitting neighbours Coseley FC 6-0. Sharing the limelight were scorers Joe Waterfield, Reece Frendo, Alex Pinches, Brad Ormerod, Harvinder Koner and Ed Shone.

Penn Rovers hit five goals against visiting AFC Sporting Gornal but Ian Craig’s charges still finished pointless on the day after conceding seven!

Rovers trailed 4-0 in just 20 minutes before bouncing back to level matters at five apiece only for Sporting to finally clinched the spoils with two late goals.

Owen Harris stole the show for Sporting with a well-taken treble, with Stuart Brown, Corey Massey, Connor Judge and James Rawlings also netting for the visitors. The Craig brothers James (two) and Adam replied as did two-goal Lewis Edwards.

There were also plenty of goals in two NDT Midlands Lester Charity Cup ties as Shere Punjab Wolves and CTS United progressed.

The former earned a second round spot when easing to an 8-2 triumph over battling Essington AFC, while unbeaten Paycare outfit CTS secured a quarter-final ticket after crushing Black Country Fusion over 30s 10-0.

In the latter clash, United’s prolific marksman Jay Crumpton blasted five to push his personal tally to 17 in just five starts. Luke Hickman also notched a treble.

Shere took a 3-0 advantage in their tie, only for Essington to cut the deficit to one before Shere added two more in the opening period.

The outcome was a comfortable success for Shere for whom Razwam Akhtar and Karzan Grezy struck doubles. Rounding off a good day for Shere were Harvey Khela, Aaron Brown, Harmit Bahia and Gaggs Kullar, with Jamie Jones and Brett Morris responding.

In the final Beacon fixture this week, Codsall Station fell at the first round hurdle in the Birmingham FA Sunday Amateur Cup, going down 7-2 at home to Wolverhampton Sunday League side Belgrade.