Earlswood Town 2, Littleton 1

LITTLETON'S promotion push suffered a setback at Earlswood.

With leaders Barnt Green virtually certain to win the league, Littleton and Droitwich are fighting for second place and automatic elevation into Division One.

They have both played 25 games. Littleton have the edge, a three point lead and better goal difference and both have to play Barnt Green away.

On a rock hard pitch with a difficult bounce good football was impossible and Earlswood are an uncompromising side who never give up.

Littleton started brightly and went close after five minutes. A superb turn by Darren Reeves left two defenders standing but his resultant shot went just wide.

Earlswood took the lead on 25 minutes. Mark Fowler's first header hit the post, his second the bar and his third went in.

Littleton drew level in the 43rd minute. Robbie Hands broke down the right, his cross was collected by Reeves and then on to Philip Haines whose pass found Simon Brain who converted from close range.

The second half was evenly contested as both teams went for the winner. Littleton almost took the lead when Brain cut in from the left and laid the ball onto Reeves. His shot brought out a full length save from Peter Maguire in the Earlswood goal.

At the other end Adam Moss was forced into similar action, saving at full stretch from Oliver Jones.

With seven minutes to go Fowler scored his second from close range to dent Littleton's hopes.

This signalled an all out assault from Littleton. Chris Bate was through but the bounce of the ball beat him just as he was about to sidefoot home. Then Darren Reeves fired just wide, as did Hands and Brain.