Brocton close gap at top of Midland League Premier Division

A 34th minute goal saw the hosts take a 1-0 lead into half-time, leaving Brocton needing a second half revival.

That task became even harder in the 68th minute as Romulus doubled their advantage, but just a minute later Brocton grabbed a goal back in bizarre circumstances, as an attempted clearance hit Cam Osborne and bulged the net.

Brocton thought they had equalised until an offside flag was raised, followed by Jake Thomas picking up two swift yellow cards for dissent and leaving Brocton with a mountain to climb.

But in the 89th minute Will Whieldon swept home from the edge of the box to equalise and in dramatic fashion Whieldon then converted a 94th minute penalty, after Charlie King was dragged to the floor by a defender, to snatch the win.

With league leaders Lichfield City drawing 2-2 with 1874 Northwich, Brocton reduced the gap at the top of the table to seven points and they also have a game in hand.

Elsewhere in the league, OJM Black Country picked up a convincing 4-0 win over Stourport Swifts, while two late goals handed AFC Wulfrunians a 2-0 win over Dudley Town.

Stone Old Alleyians hung on for a 1-0 win over Highgate United thanks to a goal from Kacper Mikulski, while Tividale drew 1-1 at Uttoxeter Town and Wolverhampton Casuals lost 2-1 at home to Shifnal Town.

In Midland League Division One, Bilston Town remain top of the table after a 2-1 win over Chelmsley Town, thanks to goals from Eesa Sawyers and Chris Bladen.

But the biggest story of the weekend came in a 10-goal thriller between Cradley Town and Heather St. John's.

Cradley took a 4-1 lead into half-time and continued their dominance in the second 45, as Jordan Crump and Brad Ward both secured hat-tricks.

An own goal handed Cradley a seventh as the game finished 7-3 in their favour.

Gornal Athletic won 2-1 at Nuneaton Griff thanks to a brace from Luke Sidaway, while Wednesfield lost 3-0 at home to Coton Green and Smethwick Rangers were beaten 2-0 at Leicester St Andrews.

In the North West Counties League Division One South, the battle at the top of the table heated up after league leaders Stafford Town suffered a late defeat to rivals Winsford United.

A swift equaliser from Patryk Mazurkiewicz made it 1-1 at half-time, before Mazurkiewicz notched a second to put Stafford ahead.

Winsford replied in the 81st minute before grabbing an 89th minute winner to go within two points of Stafford at the top of the division.

Elsewhere in the league, Wolves Sporting were held to a 2-2 draw by Alsager Town.

In the Hellenic League Division One, mid-table Bewdley Town were beaten 3-2 to struggling Cheltenham Saracens.

This result marks four consecutive league defeats for Bewdley, who sit 12th in the league.