Wrens Nest hoping to build on fine finish in West Midlands Regional League Division One

The ‘Wrenna Boys’ lost 5-3 in the Division One cup final to St Martins on Saturday – where they also remembered former player Ryan Passey.

But assistant boss Simon Worton is hoping to kick on next season and build on the team’s strong finish to the campaign.

Wrens Nest were struggling near the foot of the table earlier in the season, but after a managerial change they climbed up the table.

Worton said: “We are happy with where we are now, compared to how we were doing earlier this season.

“We are going in the right direction.

“We want to get a few more players in for next season and then we will try and push and win the league, that is our aim.”

The cup final was extra special as Wrens Nest remembered their former team-mate Passey, who died last year aged 24 after being stabbed in a nightclub.

Both sets of teams held a minute’s silence before the game at Darlaston Town 1874’s ground.

The Wrens Nest players also let off balloons and wore black armbands in touching tributes.

Wrens Nest found themselves 2-0 down within 10 minutes, immediately putting them on the back foot.

However, they showed fighting spirit and levelled the scores to 2-2 five minutes later, thanks to a header from Luke Williams and brilliant bicycle kick from Stuart Hillman.

But Wrens Nest were trailing once again after conceding on 20 minutes, as St Martins lead 3-2 at half-time. After the interval Wrens Nest dusted themselves down and equalised again in the 71st minute, with Williams bagging his second of the day.

But Wrens Nest could not hold on and conceded two more goals to go down 5-3.

However, despite a ‘disappointing’ result in a game which the Dudley outfit felt they could have won, Worton was full of praise for his players.

“We were glad to be in the final, but we wanted to win it and we believed we could win it,” he said.

“It was disappointing but I can’t knock the effort that the lads put in.

“I was absolutely proud of the efforts, commitment and desire that they showed.”

Wrens Nest’s cup final was the highlight of their season after finishing in the bottom half of the table. Worton said his side’s strong attacking performances helped them get through the rounds.

They were sitting second from bottom in the table earlier in the season.

But they were able to push up the league after the first team had a managerial change midway through the season, with manager Phil Rann being appointed in December and assistant Worton in January.

They helped guide the side up the table, steering them away from relegation to a 12th-placed finish.

Worton is hoping to take the momentum from their second half of the season into the 2018/19 campaign.

And he hopes to strengthen his squad with some new additions over the summer.

“We have a young squad with a lot of our players aged 18, 19 or 20,” he said. “We want to sign three or four players to strengthen certain areas.”

The 2017/18 campaign in Division One saw Wem Town promoted as champions while Newport Town were runners-up.

Wolverhampton-based Old Wulfrunians narrowly missed out in third position.

At the bottom end, Willenhall Town finished last with Wyrley one place above.

Elsewhere, in the West Midlands League, Wolverhampton Sporting won the Premier Division league and cup double, while Tividale finished second.

In Division Two, Sikh Hunters were champions with Wolverhampton United second and Gornal Colts third.