Paget Peak at Mead!

With league leaders Mapledene not in action on Thursday evening, the opportunity was there for anyone of Paget, The Oval or Rosary to top the league as we head into the mid-way point of October. As it was, though The Oval won both of their games - handsomely - Paget emerged at the summit, albeit on goal difference.

Paget trooped over to Brownmead for a stand-alone fixture as Maryvale were unable attend and the Erdington side found themselves a goal down early on. Undeterred however, Paget quickly overturned that deficit, before they added a third in the second half. Brownmead pulled a goal back late on but were unable to salvage a point and Paget left with all three.

Across in Kitts Green, Lea Forest were hosting Rosary and Heathlands and the Foresters would win both games to show their title credentials. Forest opened up against the Heathlands and in an evenly contested first half, the Ridpool Road outfit took the lead and shortly after, were awarded a penalty for hand-ball. The opportunity was spurned though and with Heathlands valiantly battling away, Forest had to wait until the last minute of the game to seal the points.
Rosary then began their evening against Heathlands, whose seven boys did themselves and their school proud as they ran themselves into the ground but ultimately to no reward. Heath took the lead early on with Rosary slow to get going, however Rosary struck twice in three minutes and led at half-time. Rosary extended their lead after the break, but gritty Heathlands pulled a goal back to set up a tense finish but neither side could find the net again and Rosary emerged 3-2 victors. Full credit to Heathlands who played both games with spirit and heart and with just the seven players.
So to the final game of the night, Lea Forest v Rosary, with the possibility of top spot up for grabs. Forest were on the front foot from the off and went ahead with a near-post header from a corner. That seem to wake Rosary up and they levelled courtesy of a deflected shot from just outside of the penalty area. Rosary missed two guilt-edged chances to take a lead into half-time but one was brilliantly saved while the other splayed wide.
The home team re-took the lead within a few minutes of the restart but from the resulting kick-off, Rosary were level. Both sides pressed for a winner but Forest won a series of corners and eventually made Rosary pay, as their diminutive midfielder headed home at the far post. The Foresters saw out the last couple of minutes and ended the evening with a maximum six points.

Just around the corner at The Oval, Parkfield and Thornton were the visitors. The Oval enjoyed a very fruitful evening, Thornton a mixed one and Parkfield a thoroughly miserable one. Oval defeated both comfortably, easing to a 9-0 win over Parkfield and cruising past Thornton, 7-0. Thornton put the tin hat on Parkfield's night as they went nap-hand over their Alum Rock rivals.

Paget the sit pretty on top, the first time that has happened for a while and lie ahead of The Oval in second, Rosary in third and Mapledene in fourth, by virtue of a better goal difference; Mapledene have played two fewer games then those above them, though. Lea Forest, buoyed by their six-point haul, lie fifth on nine points, while Thornton are off and running in eighth place with their first three points of the campaign.