GORNAL Athletic boss Andy Wyton thinks Saturday's defeat by Cradley Town highlights the reasons his side have fallen short of their promotion aim this season.

The Peacocks lost 2-1 at Garden Walk after giving away a late penalty against a Cradley side fighting at the opposite end of the table.

Leaders Sporting Khalsa now have a 14 point lead on third-placed Athletic with three games in hand. Despite only one team going up, Gornal's aim has now turned to securing second spot ahead of AFC Bridgnorth.

Wyton said: "We were awful. It showed the reasons why were aren't good enough to win the league.

"We came up against a side fighting for their lives and couldn't get the better of them. We had the chances but didn't have the quality to convert them.

"Credit must go to Cradley for how the did but it did show our limitations. We got frustrated when we couldn't break them down where as a side like Khalsa would have dug out the win."

The Peacocks are now set to face Wednesfield away this Saturday before welcoming Khalsa to Garden Walk a week later.

Wyton wants his side to build some form as they prepare to face Willenhall in the final of the Birmingham FA Midweek Cup at the end of April.

They will take on their fellow West Midlands League opponents at AFC Wulfrunians' Castlecroft Stadium on Tuesday, April 28 (7.45pm).

"We must find some good form before our final," added Wyton.

"I know the players will be up for the Khalsa game and they are capable of beating anyone in a one-off game, it is consistency we have struggled with.

"We missed a good opportunity to cut the gap to Bridgnorth on Saturday but they also lost so nothing has changed. We now need to bounce back and finish strong."

Against Cradley, Chris Bladen fired in an injury time penalty to hand the Hammers a much-needed three points.

With the game heading for a stalemate, wide man Nosakhare Unuarhemhen was felled in the area after bursting past his man in the second minute of added time.

The Peacocks could have little complaints after spurning a host of good opportunities throughout the game against a Cradley side that showed great character to keep themselves well in the contest.

The win will be even more pleasing for Town boss Duane Darby, who was forced to play himself due to a lack of numbers, considering the good start Gornal made.

The home side were ahead after just three minutes when Grant Joshua slotted the ball home from the spot after Dreniz Bala was fouled in the area.

The forward got in behind but had his low shot well saved by Cradley keeper Matt Jones. However, when the ball ricocheted to him, he beat one defender before being brought down as he was about to get his second shot away.

The Hammers reacted well to the early set back and were soon on level terms when Ben Johnson beat Gornal keeper Rich Kennedy to the ball after captain Chris Whittaker had whipped in a 22nd minute free-kick from the left flank.

However, it was the Peacocks that ended the half the stronger and should have taken a lead into break.

The passed up four decent chances in the last five minutes.

First, in the 42nd minute, Liam Hickman miscued in the box after striker Tom Piggott had played in a low ball.

Three minutes later Piggott himself missed with a free header after Jason Chilton had lofted a deep ball into the Cradley area.

In a breathless conclusion to the half, Joshua fired straight at defender Alex Mallan with the goal at his mercy before Danny Crudgington had a header ruled out for offside.

The second half saw the visitors start the brighter and miss a good opportunity through Darby, who had moved up front an the end of the first half after seeming to pick up a hamstring injury.

He could only fire straight at keeper Kennedy from six yards out following a cross from the right by Mallen.

Gornal eventually began to press themselves and still looked the most threatening in the final third.

Twice Piggott blazed over the bar as the game draw to a close.

Cradley then snatched all three points during a dramatic conclusion.

First Johnson could have won it in the 90th minute but he saw his low effort saved by Kennedy after getting in behind.

Just when it looked like Cradley had passed up the chance of victory, Unuarhemhen burst into the box to hand them an even better one.

Hotshot Bladen made no mistake to give the Hammers a vital victory in their fight to edge away from the bottom of the table.