LYE Town are now in a four-way battle for title success after losing 3-2 away to Bewdley Town.

Just two points separate top-of-the-table Lye and fourth-placed Shawbury United after the race for top spot was blown wide open. Second-placed Pegasus Juniors and third-placed Wolverhampton Casuals, who also have a game in hand, are both just a point behind.

Despite beating Bilston away last Saturday thanks to goals from Scott Moore and Kevin Nickle, Lye lost 3-2 away to Bewdley on Tuesday night.

Two goals from Chris Hough and another from Chris Seekins saw Bewdley to a 3-2 win although the visitors did pull two goals back in stoppage time after substitute Dan Jones had been dismissed for two yellow cards in the space of 10 minutes.

However, the manager of the team that dented Lye's title hopes has promised to do them a favour as the season draws to a close.

Bewdley's joint boss Payton, whose side have now beaten leaders Lye and rivals Wolverhampton Casuals and Sporting Khalsa this season, said they were now targeting the other member of the promotion-chasing quartet Shawbury.

“In fairness to the league and to Lye we owe it to them to do our best to get a result against Shawbury in a couple of week’s time.”

“We’ll do what’s right for Bewdley and rest a few players as we want to do well in the cup, but we also want the scalp of Shawbury."