It’s six of the best for red-hot Black Country Rangers

Rangers emerged 2-1 victors from their top of the table clash with Tividale despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half.

Both sides went into the clash boasting perfect Premier Division records but it was the visitors who emerged unscathed to make it six wins from six.

Rangers’ Keiron Clarke scored a well-placed free-kick before Rolan Agbor dribbled past four players to add their second. Daniel Smith pulled one back for Tividale 10 minutes from time.

Keeper Richard Kennedy saved a first-half penalty from Demetri Brown to deny Tividale while Rangers lost James Fuller in the second half for a reckless challenge.

Rangers boss Wayne Spicer was pleased with his team’s performance as they continue to mount an early title challenge.

He said: “We showed heart and desire to grind out a result after we went down to 10 men. I was pleased with the performance. It was a decent game.

“A lot of people were saying the game was an early six-pointer. We want to be challenging for the title. It wasn’t our intention to look at the game as a six-pointer as we are taking every game as it comes. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

Tividale boss Dave King was keen to take the positives from his side’s performance.

“Sometimes you learn more in defeat than victory,” said King. “I think we played very well. There was not a lot to choose between both teams, it was small margins in the end.

“We have got a great bunch of lads and we are a tight squad. We will be looking to bounce back from this.”

Tividale remain in second place despite the loss, while Rangers are now the only unbeaten team in the division.

The home side missed a great chance to take the lead on 33 minutes when Rangers’ Lucas Hough committed a foul in the penalty area.

Brown stepped up and fired to Kennedy’s right but the keeper palmed the ball away to safety.

Seven minutes later Rangers were awarded a free-kick just on the edge on the box. Clarke stepped up and drove the ball around the wall into the bottom right corner to opening the scoring.

Rangers began the second half aggressively with a flurry of chances but were rocked when Fuller was given his matching orders on 55 minutes for raising his boot in a challenge.

But the visitors responded by increasing their lead six minutes later through Agbor, who was picked out with a long ball and then beat four players before slotting home coolly.

Tividale gave themselves a lifeline in the 80th minute through Smith, who tapped in a rebound after Hough heroically blocked a shot on the line.

But Rangers dug in to hold on for the three points.

Dudley Town climbed up to seventh in the standings on the back of an impressive a 3-0 win at Cradley Town.

Smethwick Rangers also bagged three welcome points courtesy of a hard-fought 3-2 home success against Dudley Sports.

Bilston Town’s early season struggles continued. They suffered a sixth straight defeat as they went down 2-1 at home to Wednesfield.

Darlaston are setting the pace in Division One after rattling up a fifth win from five outings.

Tipton Town were the latest side to be swept aside as the leaders won 3-0 on home soil.

Darlaston deservedly took the lead on 37 minutes through Leon Taylor.

They increased their advantage just after the hour through a Josh Tolley header.

Taylor wrapped up the win late on when he headed home.