Pegasus Juniors 1 Lye Town 0

PEGASUS boss Chris Hyde praised his team after they inflicted just the second defeat of the season on the West Midlands League Premier Division leaders.

"Lye are very direct," said Hyde.

"They are very big and strong everywhere and don't play much pure football, it's percentage football.

"But we made a few changes and we coped with it.

"Dan Price just loves to defend; he gets as much enjoyment from winning a tackle as I used to from scoring a goal.

"He just loves this sort of game - he was fantastic, as was everyone else."

One of Hyde's team changes paid particular dividends.

"We brought in Jack Lewis at full-back because of his aerial ability and he was unbelievable," said Hyde.

"He was superb in the air and he got us the goal as well.

"But we expected them to be like they were and, while they had a bit more of the play than us, it's all about putting the ball in the net."

Hyde is now expecting his side to be in action twice a week after the long interruption because of the wet weather.

And he is likely to be without ace striker Chris Mortlock, who is training for the London Marathon and has some knee problems.

"He is the best striker in the league and I would not swap him for anyone," said Hyde.

"I have said that he is irreplaceable and, while we have to replace him, it's like being without a player-and-a-half because the strike partnership he had with Cory Hyde. They work so well together."