LYE Town stretched their unbeaten run to 23 games this week - but they had to survive a close run contest at Cradley Town before clinching a 3-2 win - writes Nick Pullen

Joint Lye boss Martin Thomas claimed: "It was a great win for us in what was a very difficult game.

 Cradley gave us a good game and I think they'll go onto take points off the top sides this season".

Lye made a flying start by taking a sixth minute lead when striker Ricky Anslow raced clear after latching onto a long ball and slotted home past goalkeeper Matt Jones.

Cradley came storming back to level on 16 minutes when Scott Devlin cracked home his 17th league goal of the season.

Seven minutes later, Cradley went ahead when Jimmy Welnitchuk capitalised on a miskicked clearence attempt by Lye goalkeeper Jake James before squaring the ball for Chris Bladen to blast home his 16th league goal of the term.

Back came Lye to level three minutes from half time when the dangerous Anslow chased another long ball and was left with an easy opportunity to slot home after goalkeeper Jones collided with his own defender Mike Townsend to set up the chance on a plate.

It wasn't until the 89th minute that Lye claimed the winning goal, once again Anslow created havoc with his pace before setting up the chance for substitute Kevin Nickle to convert.

Cradley could point to a huge slice of cruel luck when Welnitchuk converted on 53 minutes - only to have the goal ruled out for offside, while Lye could have easily made it 4-2 deep into stoppage time when Cradley central defender Lee Salmon cleared a goalbound Nickle effort off the line