Gornal Athletic 2 Leominster Town 1

LEOMINSTER completed their West Midlands League Division 1 South programme with a battling display against already crowned league champions Gornal Athletic, matching the top team in both skill and effort.

As befits champions, Gornal started confidently and attacked Leominster down both flanks.

The visiting defence responded with tenacity to hold the eager home forwards until just before the break when a swift counter-attack down the right caught Leominster napping, with the home striker cashing in with a simple tap-in at the back post.

Dale Smith put Leominster back on level terms soon after the interval when he outjumped the Gornal defenders to power in a header from a corner.

Leominster then enjoyed a spell of superiority and almost took the lead on two occasions.

Firstly Russell Freeman surprised the home goalkeeper with an overhead kick which was touched over the bar, and then Dan Stack finished off a superb move with a crisp drive which produced a fine save.

With time running out, Town were made to pay when they stopped and appealed for offside, only for the home forwards to race clear and snatch the winning goal.