ANGRY Dudley Sports joint boss Tony Gore admitted he was close to quitting after being unable to raise a side for last Saturday’s trip to second-placed Shawbury United.

Gore was hit by a number of players dropping out on the day and admitted: “I felt like walking away for good. Some of the excuses I was given were ridiculous.

“I spent Saturday morning texting and phoning people to ask if they could play and it got to the point where I had nobody left to call.

“In 18 to 19 years of football management I never thought I’d be involved with a club that couldn’t raise a side.

“I had to make the call to the West Midlands League and inform them we couldn’t fulfill the fixture.

“I’ve never been so embarrassed and it hurt me. The attitude of players has changed these days and some of them just don’t care.”

Sports are due to visit Wolves Sporting Community this Saturday.

DUDLEY Town despatched Willenhall Town 4-0 with only 10 men.

Rion Francis-Mills had fired the Robins into an early 2-0 lead before they had goalkeeper Tommy Harper sent off for handling outside the area.

Midfield man Steve Jones took over between the posts but didn’t have a single shot to save as the Robins went on to dominate the remainder of the game, with Tividale loanee Tom Overfield adding two more goals.

Robins boss Andy Wyton had no complaints with the sending off and said: “He was the best ref we’ve had all season!”

The Robins host Wednesfield this Saturday.

TIVIDALE made it 17 games unbeaten in the Midland Alliance when they won 3-2 at Kirby Muxloe.

Central defender Richard Huckfield netted from a couple of set-piece ploys, before Karl Edwards added a third.

Tivvy boss Stuart Scriven brought in new signing Craig Gregg from AFC Wulfrunians and he played up front with Nathan Waite.

Busy Tivvy host Coleshill Town this Saturday, the side which ruined their 100 per cent record.

GORNAL Athletic have dropped to bottom spot in the Alliance after losing 4-0 at home to top-of-the-table Highgate United.

Manager Matthew Price was also hit by players pulling out at short notice, while Orlando Lewis went to the wrong ground altogether and didn’t arrive at Garden Walk until 3.30pm.

Price insisted: “We played better than the score suggests, but our finishing was woeful and we didn’t take our chances.

“Highgate played the long ball to good effect, but they only created six chances and scored from four.

“We’re better than our position suggests because there are worse teams in the league than us – but it doesn’t reflect well, especially on me!”

Gornal visit Dunkirk this Saturday.