DOUGHTY ENDS ROYALS DOUBT; British Gas Business Football League DIVISION ONE MIDLANDS Free-kick edges Sutton towards play-offs.

Sutton Coldfield Town 1

Leighton Town 0

SUTTON secured one of the two wins they need to secure their place in the play-offs against mid-table Leighton Town.

The first-half was an evenly-matched tussle with neither team getting on top and neither keeper being tested.

From the kick off, Sutton threatened but Jon Daniels' shot was easily cleared and a free-kick by Sam Wilson found the head of Justin Rowe to force keeper Steve Root to save well at the foot of his left-hand post.

Wilson then lifted the ball over the keeper, only to see it cannon off the post.

The second half was dominated by Sutton but Matt Dodd had a 'goal' disallowed for off-side.

But the Royals eventually got the goal that they so desperately needed when a free-kick was awarded deep on the left touchline and Leon Doughty hit a perfect shot in to the far corner of the net that gave the keeper no chance.

Sutton had a further chance to increase their lead but the Leighton keeper blocked Rowe's shot well.

Evesham United 2

Barton Rovers 2

EVESHAM conceded two goals in the last 11 minutes to throw away two crucial points in their pursuit of the Midlands title.

The home side were seemingly coasting to victory courtesy of Mark Owen's two first-half goals but there were pegged back when Tony Fontenelle made it 2-1 after 79 minutes and veteran striker Tony Thorpe levelled matters five minutes later.

It could have been worse for United when Fontenelle raced clear in injury time but Nathan Vaughan's outstretched hand diverted the ball for a corner.

Top scorer Owen wasted an early chance to ease Evesham nerves while central defender Steven Hands saw his 35th minute header thump against the crossbar.

Owen's double strike then left Evesham firmly in control but the striker and team mate Mark Hands both missed open goals.

It was Barton who turned party poopers late on.

There was a further sting in the tail for United when goalkeeper Vaughan was red-carded after the final whistle for comments made to the referee.

Woodford United 1

Leamington 3

HIGH-FLYING Leamington made heavy weather of beating a young Woodford side, but ran out comfortable winners in the end to consolidate their second place in the league.

Leamington nearly took the lead in only the third minute when Chris Jackson slipped and gave Ben Mackey a chance, but his shot rebounded off the post.

Home keeper David Thornton denied Mackey a second opportunity, getting down well to save his 15th-minute free-kick.

However, despite having most of the possession, Leamington found the way to goal blocked at every turn, and Woodford took a shock lead on 46 minutes. The Leamington defence failed to clear and Carl Standen rolled the ball into the corner of the net.

Leamington equalised through a fine solo effort from Marcus Jackson, and went close to going in front when Guy Sanders' free-kick was well saved by Thornton.

The pressure finally told when Mackey was held as he was about to shoot, and Brakes' leading scorer stepped up to put the resultant penalty past Thornton.

The third came on 84 minutes, when Shay Morgan opened his account for the club, rising to head home from a Jamie Towers free-kick.

Stourbridge 1

Rothwell Town 0

A LEON Broadhurst goal two minutes from time clinched the points for Stourbridge as they extended their unbeaten run to 10 games.

But they were made to battle all the way by a Rothwell team who looked anything but a bottom three side.

The winning goal came when substitute Andy Wells floated over a corner and Broadhurst flying high to power a firm header past Rothwell keeper Tom Smith.

After a lack-lustre first period, the Glassboys piled on the pressure after the turnaround and Broadhurst and Sam Rock both went close to giving them the lead.

Kyle Hadley then struck the Rothwell upright on 63 minutes with a stinging 20-yard drive while at the opposite end Chris Difante lashed an effort narrowly wide of the Glassboys goal.

Stourbridge began to dominate and Broadhurst headed a Wells free-kick against the bar after 80 minutes.

But just when it looked like they would have to settle for a point Broadhurst saved the day with his late winner.

Stourport Swifts 3

Romulus 3

TYRONE Fagan salvaged an injury-time point for Romulus with his second goal of the game at Walshes Meadow.

Richard Burgess made Romulus pay for early profligacy with a 28th-minute opener for the Swifts against the run of play.

Will Gayton's neat cross found the Swifts' striker on the edge of the six yard area to beat Romulus keeper Matt Harris.

Alex Lavery then put Stourport into a two-goal lead on 34 minutes coolly shooting past Harris, Adam Robinson providing the cross.

Romulus pulled a goal back just before the interval, Fagan netting his first of the afternoon on 41 minutes.

Romulus sub Aaron Daniels put the Sutton-based side back on terms in the 58th minute with a lob over Chris Jay after beating the offside trap.

Lavery looked to have clinched the points for the Swifts when he made it 3-2 on 65 minutes, but Fagan's goal earned a point for the visitors.

Chasetown 2

Bishops Cleeve 0

DEAN Perrow's 25th league goal of the season along with a late solo strike from Danny Smith gave Chasetown's play-off hopes a real boost but Bishops Cleeve made them work hard for the win.

The home side started off well and were rewarded in the 35th minute when Perrow picked up the ball and despite a desperate challenge from the defender, the Scholars' top scorer clipped the ball over Jamie Moore.

Mark Branch went close to a second goal with a diving header from a Nick Hawkins cross before John Branch fired across the face of goal from another good ball from Hawkins.

Several times Chasetown survived real scares as Luke Corbett and Lee Davis threatened an equaliser, but with the clock running down Smith had enough in his tank to seal the win. The Chasetown striker took on a defender on the halfway line and once he had gained a yard strode forward to score off the base of the post.

Malvern Town 1

Rushall Olympic 1

RUSHALL kept up their challenge for a play-off place with a point against struggling Malvern who extended their unbeaten league run to three matches.

Olympic started strongly and took the lead in the 20th minute, when Junior Brown converted a right-wing cross from close range.

The first half was generally a scrappy affair, and the home side had few chances to get back into the game before the interval.

Malvern began the second half much more brightly, and got back on terms three minutes after the break, when Mark Goodman bent a free kick into the top left corner from 20 yards.

The home side kept up the pressure but although Goodman and Paul Edwards created openings, Town were unable to profit from them against a determined Rushall defence.

At the other end, Malvern keeper Craig Humphries pulled off two good saves to keep the scores level.

Aylesbury United 1

Bedworth United 0

AYLESBURY beat a lacklustre Bedworth side with the only goal of the game scored by Danny Nichols in the ninth minute.

Nichols side-footed the ball via the crossbar from a James Faulkner centre.

In a poor game, Bedworth's first shot on goal came in the last minute of the first half when Adam Kinder put his 20-yard shot over the cross bar.

The home side dominated the second half, but could not improve on their lead, mainly due to some fine defending by Bedworth substitute Gilbert Cummins.

CAPTION(S):

BOOT BLING: Sutton Coldfield Town's Matt Dodd uses his orange footwear to get away from Leighton Town's Craig Kench; LEG UP: Enzo Silvestri clears under pressure from Sutton's Phil Male