Alkerton Rangers..................................3

Tredworth Tigers Res.............................4

SCHOOLBOY defending cost the Snakey Lane outfit dearly against the league leaders.

Earlier, Alkerton took the game to their opponents with Dave Potter leading the line magnificently and Kirk Wilkinson and Lewis Vanstone in mercurial form.

Deservedly, Alkerton were on the board on the stroke of half-time. Fed on the right by Henry Turner, Kirk Wilkinson rounded his man and cannily scored from an acute angle.

Immediately after the break the game was turned on its head.

Identical right-wing deliveries were headed home with custodian Chris Stark helpless, and Tredworth went further ahead on the hour when Stark tripped a forward inside the area and was beaten by the resulting penalty. Vanstone tried his luck from distance before an injury to Kev Potter saw a defensive re-shuffle.

Alkerton kept plugging away and on 76 minutes were rewarded for their endeavour when Dave Potter flicked on Kirk Wilkinson’s corner and Vaughan Wilkinson stabbed home the loose ball.

Rangers were then caught short from a throw-in as Tredworth scored via another header and following another set piece were reduced to ten men courtesy of a deliberate hand-ball on the goal line. Stark redeemed himself by saving the spot kick. The home side set up a grandstand finish when the onrushing Charlie Henry glanced in Turner’s left-wing cross but Tredworth back line stood firm.