Bromsgrove Advertiser/Messenger

District Football League

IT was another frustrating Sunday for Droitwich Red Lion as they narrowly went down 3-2 at Division One leaders Alvechurch Darts.

Lion made a couple of changes to last week's line up with the out of form Dean Pinner and Steve Barratt left out, earning recalls for Mick Burford and Ian Bowman.

But Lion were never at the races in the first half and poor marking from set pieces allowed Mark Foley and Aaron Barnett to put Darts 2-0 ahead. The killer blow then came right on half time when Dave Price took advantage of slack defending to make it three.

With a few home truths and harsh words told at half time, Lion came out for the second half a completely different side.

As they stepped up the pace, with Bowman and Adderley now running the midfield, they finally got the breakthrough on the hour when Wayne Morse was pulled down in the box and Morse picked himself up to slot home the resulting penalty.

A couple of minutes later Ian Bowman curled in a superb free kick to pull back another, but despite late pressure they just couldn't find the equaliser.

Lion must now pull together for next Sunday's LMS Shield Final against Mostyn Rangers at Bromsgrove Rovers FC, KO 6.30pm.

Results, Division One: Mappleborough 0 Access Security 7 (Bob Coy, Chad Ehlertsen, Richard Bills three, Stuart McDarby two). Turks Head 0 Rubery Social 1 (Richard Stocks).

Division Two: Barley Mow 3 (Paul Quorroll two, Clive Wagstaff) Woodbourne Sports 0. Bromsgrove Town 2 (Rob Perry, Peter Frost) Sutton Athletic 1 (Gary Cooney). Castle 1 (Rob Dufty) Crabmill 3 (Dave Cummins, Richard Cull, Chris Morsey). Merlin 2 (Paul Harper, Lee Jones) Victoria Barnt Green 1 (John Barnes). Ringspanners 1 (Chris McKeon) Sight and Sound SSC 5 (Euen Rose three, Jason Smith, Andy Seargent).

Division Three: Bromsgrove General 6 (Carl Hickman, John Bird, Graham Cramp, Vince White, Bradley Holmes, John Preece) Southside United 1 (Javender Singh). Droitwich Springmeadow 2 (Craig Stevens 2, Lee Burgess) Sporting Harborne 8 (Rob Smith six, Kevin Heath, Chris Grant). Stourport Town 0 Central Park 3 (Matt Willis two, Ian Sallows).

Division Four: Barley Mow Reserves 8 (Craig Robinson three, Terry Clarke three, Ian Cox, Derek Payne) Sporting Highfield 4 (Lee Allcott, Jamie Wesley, John Kennedy two). Freemasons 3 (Mark Birt, Kurt Hall, Simon Jones) Real Archers 1 (Mark Hemmings). Queens Head Rovers 3 (Paul Baker, Spencer Greaves two) Olympico 5 (James Childs, Dave Pepper two, Mark Houghton, Chris Williams). Victoria Barnt Green Reserves 2 (Daniel Collins, Lee Williams) Alvechurch Darts Reserves 2 (Richard Crook, Gavin Ottley).

Youth Division: Cofton Falcons 6 (Jamie Wright six) Church Hill United 3 (Danny Morgan, Matt Holder, Aaron Dawson). Woodbourne Sports 1 (Alex Jones) Kingfisher Colts 4 (Rob Smith, James White, Jordan Ayre, Brett Stanley).

Bromsgrove Bus and Coach Youth Cup semi-final: Forest Falcons 2 (Tim Denyer, Dave Trevellyn) Tupsley Pegasus 1 (Chris Perkins).

Midweek game: Division Four: Victoria Barnt Green Reserves 4 (Lee Williams, Daniel Collins, Danny Hobbis, James Moir) Sporting Highfield 1 (Jamie Wesley).

Advertiser/Messenger Cup Final: Mostyn Rangers v Access Security, Thursday May 3, KO 7.30pm at Redditch United FC.