SANDWELL Action boosted their hopes of a place in the knockout stages of the new Beacon Sunday League Clinton Cup when pulling off a 3-0 home success over Shere Punjab this week.

The Action men retained their 100 per cent start in the group stages and it was a second successive clean sheet.

James Walker broke the deadlock in this latest Lawsons sponsored clash, firing Sandwell ahead on 15 minutes. On the hour, Jason Wood made it 2-0, before Ricky Danton rounded off another crucial win for the hosts.

In the same competition, Pensnett Youth appeared to be heading for a second win in two, only to go down 4-3 in a thrilling encounter against Pendeford who chalked up a first victory in three.

Goals from Greg Corbett and Steve Cater put Pensnett in charge at the interval, before Pendeford stormed back after the restart to lead 3-2.

Although Pensnett equalised, again through Cater, Pendeford, who were indebted to Dan Heath and Dave Passmore doubles, struck a winner with 15 minutes to go.

In the Martyn Chell Cup, both Bushbury Rovers and FC Premier retained unbeaten starts in the Saint Gillard sponsored competition with respective away victories over Old Cross Athletic (4-2) and Claregate Rangers (4-0).

A missed second half penalty may have led to a different outcome for Old Bush, while Patrick Rafferty two, Kyle Matthews and Courtney Allen found the target for Bushbury who extended their excellent form this season, running out 4-2 winners. Sam Yeboah and Nathan Barrett replied for Old Cross.

Meanwhile, the Beacon Sunday League is now receiving applications for the 2017/18 season. Interested teams, new and old, should contact league development officer David Clinton on 07964 730275 or visit beacon-football-league.co.uk.

All fixtures in the league are played on a Sunday afternoon and this season a newly restructured league championship and two new cup competitions have proved very popular with the member clubs.

Dates for three Beacon league cup finals were confirmed this week and are: April 26, Clinton Cup, sponsored by Lawsons (7.45pm); April 30, NDT Midlands Lester Charity Cup (3pm); May 4, Martyn Chell Cup, sponsored by Saint Gillard (7.45pm).