Dudley Town 7 (Seven) Enville Athletic 4 (From Halesowen News)

Dudley Town 7 (Seven) Enville Athletic 4

12:16pm Monday 23rd July 2012 in Sport

THE goals rained in as Dudley Town ’s pre-season campaign stepped up a notch with victory against Midland Combination Division Two outfit Enville Athletic.

Town had suffered from weather enforced cancellations during their build up for the new season and in essence this was their first run out against a senior non-league club.

Joint managers Andy Burgess and Andy Wyton were able to show off three summer signings in goalkeeper Tommy Harper, midfielder Carl Gardner and centre-forward Grant Joshua. Meanwhile, another summer signing Dan Williams was turning out on loan for the visitors to Lea Castle.

The 41 who took advantage of a rare fine day this summer were treated to goals right from the get go. It only took three minutes for last season's top scorer Dreniz Bala to get the Robins off the mark after stealing in and firing a low shot home, though the lead did not last long and Enville drew level just two minutes later.

Tansley stole possession and set up Arnold who fired the ball beyond the reach of former Lye Town 'keeper Harper.

On 12 minutes Dudley were back in front, with Bala grabbing his second. Two minutes later they had a two goal cushion, Alex Perry breaking free and setting up Grant Joshua to strike home.

But just when it appeared Town had the game under control Enville clawed a goal back, when a neat move from the Midland Combination side was finished off by Arnold for his second of the game.

Bala smacked a shot against the bar before half-time but the crowd had to wait until the 52nd minutes for the next goal.

It went to the hosts, Rion Francis-Mills making it 4-2. The same played grabbed his second and Dudley’s fifth 11 minutes later and then completed a fine hat-trick when he slid in to score. When Danny Smith cracked a seventh for Dudley just past the midway point of the half, Enville must have feared a humiliating defeat.

But they rallied superbly to score twice in the closing quarter to complete an incredible scoreline.