Gornal Athletic 1, Cradley Town 2

COURAGEOUS Cradley gave their survival chances a massive boost with victory at neighbours Gornal Athletic.

Chris Bladen fired in an injury time penalty to hand Town a much-needed three points at Garden Walk today.

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 Hammers boss Duane Darby, who was forced to play himself due to a lack of numbers, considering the goo 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.

It was the perfect start for Andy Wyton's men who are looking to end the season well, especially with a cup final on the horizon.

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.

The rest of the half was an even encounter as Gornal failed to get their game going - their frustration evident as they argued with the referee and bickered among themselves.

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 to win it, 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.

Gornal: Kennedy, Martin, Chilton, Love, Edmonds (c), Crudgington (Corbett), Hickman (Jones), McGuiligan, Piggott, Bala, Joshua (Weston).

Cradley: Jones, Belle, Mallen, Edwards, Darby, Whittaker (c), Unuarhemhen, Wilkinson, Bladen, Johnson, Smigielski.