Loss adds insult to GK injury (From Stourbridge News)

Loss adds insult to GK injury

Dudley Sports have been rocked by an injury to last season's player of the year Dylan Cooknell who is due to go under the knife this week.

Goalkeeper Cooknell, who has made 14 appearances for the West Mids Premier Division side this term, is expected to have an operation on his knee on Friday after suffering cartilage damage.

The 19-year-old's absence will give an opportunity for Steff Jones to play his first game in two years after suffering a broken leg in a match at Leamington.

Jones could feature in the derby clash with Tividale at The Beeches on Saturday.

Sports were defeated 4-0 at home by Shifnal on Saturday, who indicated the strength of their team with the crushing win.

Two early goals from Matthew Hall and Lyndon Dovey gave the visitors the lead.

Sports played better in the second half and could have pulled one back when Andy Glover shot narrowly wide.

But as they went chasing the game, Shifnal hit them twice more on the break in the last five minutes, first through Dominic Heath and then Hall nodded in his second of the match.

Sports are in knockout action on Tuesday at home to Nuneaton Griff in the first round of the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Cup.

Saturday's Dudley derby ended with honours even so neither Gornal Athletic nor Dudley Town could claim bragging rights, although it is the Robins who are likely to be happier with the goalless draw.

Gornal had been on a run of three successive wins, culminating in a 3-0 triumph at Ledbury Town in midweek, while Dudley are now without a win in five games.

Town will have the chance to rectify that with two home games this week. First up is the visit of Brierley and Hagley on Saturday and then they host Wolverhampton Casuals next Tuesday.

Meanwhile Gornal were due to take on Pelsall Villa on Tuesday before an away trip to Wellington next Tuesday (October 24).

WMRL Division Two outfit Dudley United got back to winning ways on Saturday when they stormed past Tollandine Sports in the first round of the Kidderminster Hospital Cup.

Keir Stokes set up Luke Dunning to opening the scoring in the fifth minute then Michael Duncombe scored a spectacular second on the half hour.

Hegarty's brave header made in three after half time before Gary Pye completed the win with a volley.

Tollandine pulled one back in the latter stages.

It is another cup tie on Saturday with a visit to Continental Star Reserves in the Birmingham Vase first round.