LADS Club surrendered their unbeaten record in Division Two of the West Midlands League as their 10 men went down to a 2-0 home reverse against Malvern Rangers.
The departure of youngster Cory Craddock with a hamstring injury after just 20 minutes put an end to a good opening phase by the city side.
But, although Rangers dominated the latter stages of the first period, a goalless draw seemed likely until Liam Jones was sent off.
A debatable penalty 20 minutes from time gave Rangers the chance to open the scoring. Jordan Burke missed a great chance to level but Anthony Smith sealed the points five minutes from time. Two goals from the division’s top scorer Jamie Welch fired leaders Ledbury Town to a 2-1 success at Sikh Hunters.
Welch took his tally to 28 for the season, four ahead of team-mate Dan Herbert, as Town completed a double over the Oldbury-based side.
Four goals from James Upcott earned Bartestree a 5-2 success at Mahal Reserves and moved the villagers up to second place in the division.
Two strikes from Upcott and another from Matt Wargen saw Bartestree 3-0 up at the interval.
A penalty and a free-kick by the home side cut the margin to a single goal but with both sides reduced to 10 men after Wargen and a home player were sent off, Upcott scored twice more in the closing stages to complete the win.
Wellington 1 Wolverhampton Casuals 2.
GOALS five minutes into each half earned Casuals a deserved West Midlands League win at Wellington despite plenty of late pressure from the home side.
“It was a probably a true reflection of our league positions,” admitted Wellington chairman Phil Smith. “And they were a little bit better than us.”
Casuals opened the scoring after five minutes and extended their lead early in the second period.
Aaron Morgan pulled a goal back for the home side 10 minutes from the end and despite an all-out bid for an equaliser by the home side, Casuals held on.
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