DUDLEY Sports boss Tony Gore was delighted with his side's display despite losing 2-1 against title chasing Tividale this week.

Sports found themselves 2-0 down at half time but then staged a late recovery to set up a tense finish.

Gore insisted: "We started the better side but Tividale scored completely against the run of play.

"Tividale then made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time when Dan Smith scored his second goal. But both side had chances after the break."

Sports hit the post through debut boy Jack Hickman who has been recruited from Sunday football before Ricardo Graham clawed a late goal back.

Gore enthused: "It was a much improved performance, especially after the game against Ellesmere Rangers when we were shocking.

"If I was honest, Tividale just shaded it and to be fair, they missed an absolute sitter in the second half which would have made it 3-0 when they hammered the ball wide from 10 yards out when there was no goalkeeper to beat.

"But we made it really nervous for them at the finish and we had the chances to get something out of the game."

Sports have been boosted by the return of Netherton based Shep Machingauta who was last season's leading goalscorer but then switched to Stafford Town this term.

Gore revealed: "I noticed that Shep hadn't been playing recently for Stafford. I was told he couldn't train with them and then discovered that he wanted to come back to Dudley Sports.

"So we signed him on Saturday morning and he came straight into the side to face Tividale."

Gore is also ready to welcome back Richard Nicholson after work commitments prevented him from starting the season.

Nicholson is likely to feature for Sports at Bilston Town Community this Saturday.

Gore explained: "I lost four or five players recently and we've been going through a period of rebuilding.

" I'm hoping to add another couple of lads this week who are just the type of players we are looking for at the moment."