DUDLEY Sports were soon brought back down to earth this week when title outsiders Wolves Casuals crushed them 6-1 at Hillcrest Avenue.

Earlier in the week, Sports had pulled out all the stops to claw themselves off bottom spot with a prized 2-0 win over Worcester Raiders with Mike Panford proving the man on target.

But Casuals were a completely different proposition and effectively put the game to bed before half time after building a commanding 5-0 lead.

Jake Webb took just eight minutes to open the Casuals' account with a neat finish before Ben Podmore added a second goal when heading home a clinical Reece Mason cross.

Kyle Brady then wrapped matters up by completing a hat-trick, his three goals arriving within the space of 12 minutes.

It looked as though Sports would be put to the sword at half time, but instead they creditably battled back and cut the deficit with a goal from Will Tibbetts.

Indeed Casuals could add only one more goal to their tally, Lewis Gill converting from the penalty spot after Jake Webb had been brought down.

Despite the defeat, Sports remain two points off the bottom and were set to try and better that position further on Tuesday night when entertaining Wednesfield at Brierley Hill.

Bewdley Town improved their title prospects without even kicking a ball!

While their trip to Pershore Town was called off, leaders Shifnal Town were busy suffering a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Littleton.

Jake Lloyd put Littleton ahead when he turned the ball into his own goal before former Stourbridge favourite Ben Billingham bagged a second goal with a sumptuous lobbed effort that eluded goalkeeper Jake Jones.

Shifnal piled on the pressure but could only convert once with a late strike from Kyle Montague.

Although beaten, Shifnal still remain strong favourites to lift the league title as they remain six points clear of second placed Bewdley with a game in hand for good measure.

Black Country Rangers bowed out of the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Cup after unluckily losing 6-5 on penalties to Atherstone Town after the game had finished level at 3-3.

Black Country will be hoping for better luck this week.

They were due to visit fourth placed Wolves Casuals on Tuesday before entertaining Pershore Town on Saturday in Brierley Hill.

Cradley Town were scheduled to visit Ludlow based Shawbury United on Tuesday before playing hosts to Shifnal Town on Saturday in a classic top v bottom encounter.

Tividale based Smethwick Rangers host Wolves Casuals on Saturday at Packwood Road, while Dudley Town will attempt to cement their third placing with a short trip to Darlaston Town.

The draw has also been made for the League Cup quarter finals, which is as follows: Cradley Town v Wolves Sporting Community, Pershore Town v AFC Bridgnorth, Shifnal Town v Littleton and Worcester Raiders v Black Country Rangers.

All the ties are set to take place next Tuesday, March 24.