WORCESTERSHIRE SENIOR URN SEMI-FINAL: Lye Town 3 (Shilvock 16, Chilton 36, 54) Littleton 0. 

A FIRST defeat since October saw Littleton’s Worcestershire Senior Urn quest ended by higher-ranked Lye Town.

Defensive lapses, the first-half dismissal of midfielder Dave Edwards and a lack of breaks in front of goal proved a toxic mix in the 3-0 reverse at the Sports Ground.

Both sides moved the ball well on a surface that was tricky to handle but while the Ton Boys had plenty of the play, Lye looked more purposeful when reaching the final third.

It might have been different had Darren Byford’s near-post blast from a clever Dale Edwards cutback not been saved by home keeper Tom Turner five minutes in.

Lye began to stroke around the ball with confidence and a patient passage of possession ended with Lee Chilton wriggling free of his marker to hit the post with a swirling shot across goal.

The hosts moved ahead within two minutes when Reece Shilvock got past Dave Edwards and took advantage of a sliced attempt to clear by keeper Brendon Bunn to nudge in. 

Littleton barely had time to compose themselves by the time Simon Williams lashed across goal only to see his 20-yard effort from the left edge of the box bobble harmlessly wide.

The big flashpoint arrived 27 minutes in when Dave Edwards slid in late on Lye captain Scott Gennard who kicked out in the aftermath with Edwards appearing to tread on the inside of his opponent’s leg.

Referee Andrew Genders consulted his assistant and took his time before issuing straight red cards to both players, decisions that drew precious little ire from either bench. 

Littleton had a golden chance to level when Robbie Agar’s ping across the box saw Dale Edwards cut back inside but his shot under Turner ricocheted off the keeper's buttocks and into the side netting.

Chilton soon doubled Lye’s lead, bursting past Lewis Clarke and nipping in front of the committed Bunn before rolling into the empty net from an acute angle three minutes after the close call at the other end. 

Dale Edwards went agonisingly close to an instant reply with a dipping shot that fizzed just over the bar and while Littleton began the second half strongly, another sucker punch sealed their fate nine minutes after the interval.

Ryan Rowe caught in possession advancing centre-half Simon Fitter with Chris Knight taking on the loose ball.

Having driven inside, Knight’s low shot was repelled by Bunn but Chilton slammed home the rebound.

The match largely petered out from there. Littleton kept plugging away but as more time ticked away, so did their belief that the breakthrough would arrive.

Lye: Turner, Jones, Tye, Pearlman (Flowers, 80), Mills, Shilvock (Hague, 62), Chilton, Gennard, Rowe (Stone, 70), Knight, Williams. Unused subs: Drew, Till.

Littleton: Bunn, Ingram, Palmer, Fitter, Clarke, Dave Edwards, Byford (M Edwards, 62), Agar (Roche, 62), Carter (Wright, 72), Adams, Dale Edwards. Unused subs: Westwood.

Referee: Andrew Genders.

Attendance: 58.