DARREN Andrews and Steve Dixon were red-carded as Hereford Lads Club crashed to a 3-0 home defeat against rivals Worcester Raiders in West Midlands League Division One.

The reverse ended table-topping Lads Club’s 15-match winning streak and Raiders are now determined to “chase down” the Hereford outfit in the title race.

Goals from Martin Newman, Nick MacPherson and Richard Smith saw Raiders sentence Lads Club to a first league defeat.

Worcester are eighth, 24 points behind Lads Club but with six games in hand on their rivals.

Raiders booked a “49-seater coach” for the derby and their fans celebrated on 32 minutes.

After Smith took a quick free-kick, MacPherson chested the ball into the path of Newman, who fired his shot in off the post.

They remained in control and added a second on the hour when MacPherson pounced on Anthony Smith’s cross before smashing the ball into the top corner.

Lads Club’s afternoon went from bad to worse in the final 30 minutes as Richard Smith struck either side of the dismissals of Andrews and Dixon.

Raiders chairman Kevin Jenkins believes their win has given them the chance to put themselves in the title race.

“If we win all our games in hand, it puts us six points behind them,” he said.

“Lads Club were thinking they were indestructible but we have come along and beaten them.

“They will be looking over their shoulders now and we are going to chase them down.”

No-one from Lads Club was available for comment but Jenkins said: “We were in complete control. Even their manager said we were the best team they had played.”

Elsewhere in Division One, Bromyard Town secured a 3-1 home success against Team Dudley but Kington Town lost 3-0 at home to Tipton Town.

A late goal from Alex Hunt rescued a deserved point for Wellington in a 2-2 draw at Shifnal Town in West Midlands League Premier Division.

The villagers dominated the first half but wasted a hatful of chances and found themselves 2-1 down at the interval.

Paul Jones netted Wellington’s opening goal and also rattled the bar. The villagers levelled in the 85th minute when Hunt bundled in Will Perkins’ corner. There was disappointment for Pegasus Juniors, who lost 3-1 at Dudley Town.