Gornal 2, Allscott 0

GORNAL Athletic moved up to second place in West Midlands League Division One with a battling success over Allscott.

Goals in each half from Geoff Hill and substitute Liam Hickman handed the Peacocks another big three points towards their promotion target.

It was the visitors that started the brighter as midfielder Ryan McLean forced a good save from home keeper Ash Horton in the first minute. Forward Kieran Buckley then blazed over moments later.

However, the home side settled into the contest and cause problems of their own in the final third.

First Hill glanced a header wide on eight minutes before Ant Cox's volley was saved by Dan Pilkington after a good ball in from the right flank.

Athletic broke the deadlock on the half hour mark through hitman Hill.

A free-kick from deep was flicked into the striker's path and he provided the neat finish beyond the outrushing Pilkington from six yards.

Gornal had chances to add to their tally approaching the break but full-back Scott Glasby could only curl an effort wide on 35 minutes before Hill fired over the bar four minutes later.

The clash remained a scrappy affair for long periods and continued in the same manner in the second half.

Liam Morris passed up a big opening just three minutes into the half when he headed straight at Pilkington from close range.

From then on it was largely a midfield battle with both sides surrendering possession far too easily.

A host of Allscott corners mid-way through the second period were well defended by the commanding presence of both skipper Ben Podmore and Connor Fellows as the visitors struggled to trouble Horton in the Gornal goal.

The points were wrapped up by sub Hillman six minutes from the end.

He provided a fine finish from a narrow angle after getting in down the left.

There was still time for Hill to rattle the woodwork with a powerful effort from the edge of the area but Gornal made sure they did enough to bag the spoils and keep their promotion ambition burning.

They go second after rivals Newport could only draw away at Worcester Raiders.

Gornal: Horton, Glasby, Lawton, Beech, Podmore (c), Fellows, Cox, Arnold, Hill, Morris (Hand 89), Foster (Hillman 61).

Unused subs: Dunn, Dabbs, Brown.

Allscott: Pilkington, Griffiths, Bowler, McIntosh (c) (Elliott 76), Wilson (Dean 68), Ayres, McLean, Evans, Scragg, Buckley, Harper.

Unused subs: Thomas, Thorpe.