The Robins took the points after a Wayne Lawley header won the game and victorious manager Mark Kavanagh felt his team deserved the points.

He said: "It was a proper derby game, both teams worked hard and it was close. We had to contend with a slope and the wind in the first half but the goal that won it was a really excellent finish from Wayne and deserved to be the winner."

Town had to play the last twenty minutes with 10 men after Harpric Singh was given a second yellow card for diving.

This weekend Town travel to Shawbury United now managed Delwyn Humphries and Kavanagh was clear about the importance of the match. "It's vital that we get the points, " he says. "Shawbury have done really well recently since Delwyn went there and he will make sure everyone knows their jobs but I'm certain that we can get in the top three and that is our aim now."

Meanwhile Sports joint manager Paul Blakeley feels his side are close to being promotion challengers but admits they need to find a little extra quality to defeat the top sides.

He said: "They tried as hard as they could and I cannot praise them enough for their efforts. But we just need to add that extra something that can put us up there with the Dudley Towns and Tividales."

The Sports joint boss was quick to point out that it was not necessarily results that matter at this stage of the clubs' development - arguing that the ground work has been laid for a much brighter future.

On Saturday Sports take on a lowly Bustleholme side at home (kick off 3pm)but Blakley will not be taking them lightly and is expecting tough encounter.