Bromsgrove Advertiser/Messenger

District Football League

THE Division Two title race is boiling up nicely, with plenty of points to play for in the promotion battle.

Victoria Barnt Green stayed in the hunt for the title with a crucial 4-3 victory over second-place Castle. Vics were 3-1 down early in the second half and looked dead and buried from Castle's fine finishing. But in a fine team performance, goals from sharp strike partners Danny Hobbis and Scott Reeves (two) completed a dramatic comeback. Matt Newbold also got on the scoresheet for Vics, who still have half their league programme to play.

Woodbourne Sports and Bromsgrove Town -- both sides with promotion aspirations -- fought out a 3-3 draw in Earlswood. Town opened the scoring after a minute when Peter Frost's superb cross-field ball to Stuart Eades was in turn projected into the box for man of the match Scott Gaffney to send a looping header across Dev Walker into the net. A basic defensive error was punished in the tenth minute and Woodbourne gained confidence and began to run the midfield. Right on half time Town were caught napping at the back and Woodbourne capitalised to go in ahead.

Gaffney equalised with another header in the 58th minute but Woodbourne replied five minutes later. With the play going from end to end and Eades and Gaffney marauding from box to box it came as no surprise that Town again equalised through Carl Gray, who went round the keeper with ease before firing home.

The last 25 minutes were frantic, with both sides going for the win. Town got the ball in the net through Hinton but he was adjudged offside and Woodbourne looked dangerous in the break.

Merlin and Sight and Sound played a double header. A 0-0 draw in the first match was followed by a 1-0 win for Merlin in the second game.

Stuart Doughty scored the only goal as Sutton Athletic beat Ringspanners 1-0. In midweek, Barley Mow eased to a 3-0 win over Crabmill, with goals from Steve Hassell and Clive Wagstaff (two).

In Division One, Droitwich Red Lion finally moved off the bottom of the table with a 3-1 victory over fellow strugglers Mappleborough Green. The recalled Victor Chang combined with Reggie Perry to set up Wayne Morse for the opener. Moments later Morse crashed home his second from close range after being teed up by Simon Oswell. Lion lost their way when player-manager Phil Wood limped off before the break, and minutes after the restart a mishap by keeper Dean Pinner saw Joe Deakin pull one back for Green. Pinner redeemed himself on the hour with an amazing save to keep out Brown's header. With 20 minutes remaining, Wood sent on Richard Crumpler and within seconds he latched on to Matty Oswell's through-ball before thundering into the top corner from 25 yards to seal Lion's first league win of the season.

Tony Woodward and Keiron Holland were on target for Turks Head in their 2-0 victory at Winyates Athletic, while Rubery Redstar and Nailers Arms played out a 0-0 draw.

Bromsgrove General look good for the Division Three title after beating Central Park 4-2. John Preece bagged a brace and Nick Henry and Graham Clamp also scored for the winners. Park replied through Ian Sallows and Matt Willis.

Turks Head Reserves enjoyed a good week ahead of their Rosebowl cup final with victories over Greyhound Hunters and Stourport Town. Steven Mole, Andy Lawley, Brett Smith, Gavin Willock, Keiron Holland and Ryan Fettish were the hot-shots in their 6-1 win over Hunters, who replied through Danny Topham. James Roberson, Stuart Glover, Ryan Fessey and Gavin Willock were on target in the 4-0 triumph over Stourport.

Lakeside played out a 0-0 draw with Sporting Harborne, while Southside United are really doing things with a 7-0 win over Boars Head Exiles. Peter Eaton hit a hat-trick with further goals coming from Javinder Singh, Mark Uddin, Lenroy Ramsey and Rishender Singh.

Olympico continue to lead Division Four after a 11-0 demolition of Kimal Athletic. Dave Pepper struck five times as the rout was completed by Stuart Jones, Aaron Tomlin, Richard Atkins, Mark Houghton, Chris Williams and Dave Pritchard.

Barley Mow Reserves kept the heat on Olympico with a 2-1 win over Queens Head Rovers. Gary Smith struck twice. They also won the second match of the double header 5-1. Davie Webb (two), Darren Bloxidge (two) and Derek Payne goals were too much for Andy Chavnor's strike for Rovers.

Freemasons hit nine past Longbridge Dynamo without reply. Kurt Hall netted five times as Gary Wright, Dave Parker, Simon Jones and Russell Evans also left their mark.

Richard Crook netted a hat-trick for Alvechurch Darts Reserves in their 4-1 win over Real Archers. Gavin Ottley also scored as Paul Lankenham scored a consolation.

Bromsgrove Labour beat Chequers 2-1, thanks to Paul Minnett and Trevor Reilly. Stan Tustain replied.

Victoria Barnt Green Reserves came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Sporting Highfield. Adam Williams and Wayne Davies were the match savers as Highfield scored through John Kennedy and John Harris.

In the Youth Division, Central Ajax won their double header with Cofton Falcons 1-0 and then 7-0. Neil Ludford was the matchwinner in the first match while Adam Halford, Scott Rogers, Eddie Pontin, Neil Woodfield (two) and Andy Matjaszek (two) all scored in the second game.

Woodbourne beat Frankley 2-0 thanks to goals from Jamie Edwards and Dave Turner, while Headless Cross beat Churchill United 4-2. Gary Roberts, Mark Willow and Keith Conway (two) scored for 'Cross while Andy Bennett and Jordan Ayre replied.