KINGTON Town and Bartestree both had cause to celebrate a timely return to winning ways in Division One of the West Midlands (Regional)?League last weekend.

Kington secured their first victory since they beat Bartestree on the opening day of the season when they saw off high-riding FC Stafford 2-1 at Mill Street.

And basement boys Bartestree finally opened their winning account for the campaign when they hauled themselves off the foot of the table with a welcome 3-2 triumph at Wednesfield.

Kington did it the hard way, coming from behind to beat second-placed Stafford with second-half goals from Mark Langford and Nick Evans.

Boss Shaun Harris, who guided Kington to the Division Two title last season, admitted: “It was game we needed to win. We haven’t scored the goals or got the results we’ve deserved so far, but we started slowly last year as well so hopefully we can now put together a decent run.”

Harris was forced to use versatile summer signing Ryan Nicholas in the centre of defence alongside Paul Morgan with Ricky Dyer out with a broken foot and Alec Whinstone suspended.

With the influential Tom Rowlands also missing with a shoulder injury, he gave Mark Langford a full debut alongside brother Myles, and it was the ex-Bartestree midfielder who levelled with a measured finish as Kington upped the ante to wipe out a half-time deficit.

A terrific save from goalkeeper Zeke Vivian denied Stafford from regaining the lead, but Kington deservedly won it when the industrious Evans saw a shot deflected home following a corner.

Summer recruit Shaun Prince was the Bartestree hero, scoring twice to take his tally to an impressive five goals in seven games as the villagers finally won at the ninth time of asking.

Mark Cooper added the other.