HEADLESS Cross Ladies' title dreams are in tatters after an agonising 1-0 defeat on Sunday which handed the championship to leaders Kidderminster.

Cross went into the game trailing the leaders by four points and knowing they had to win the Abbey Stadium clash.

The hosts dominated early on with the visiting keeper forced into action and Teresa Boddington hitting the post in the first half.

But the killer goal came midway through the second half to leave Cross looking forward to the Herefordshire County Cup final for silverware.

The disappointment is a bitter blow for Cross who finished runners-up in the league last year and then lost a hastily-arranged promotion play-off.

In the close season they saw Kidderminster, winners of the West Midlands League Premier Division - the league up from Headless - for the last two years, relegated to their level after refusing promotion to the Midland Combination.

Although Kidderminster said they would not field a Premier Division strength side they have won the title at a canter with an unbeaten record and two matches left to play.

And to rub salt in the wound, Auld may have to ask league officials for permission to postpone Sunday's trip to Southam (ko 2pm) after losing eight of his sixteen player squad.

Midfielders Denise Markham (shoulder injury) Elaine Frampton (ankle) and Melanie Potter (ankle) are unavailable along with defenders Shelly Dixon, Mandy Hill (both work) and Lucy Henderson (ankle) and goalkeepers Tina Benbow (work) and Paula Palfreyman (holiday).