Top guns at Christmas on the Beacon Sunday League scene are Claregate Park Rangers after they extended their unbeaten league record to eight games this week, writes Dave McLean.

The main contenders in this season's top tier Concentric Sales & Lettings Championship faced each other on the final weekend of fixtures for 2021 and Claregate retained a crucial one point advantage over Dudley Rangers United.

Claregate took on fellow unbeaten Blades FC and it was the former who grabbed the spoils 3-1 as goals from Alex Cameron, Rodney Williams and Adam Garmston proved decisive. Todd Ferrier responded for Coseley based Blades.

It was second v fourth in the other top clash and Dudley Rangers remained on Claregate's heels after twice coming from behind to eventually see off an equally impressive hosts, Widdas FC.

The latter had raced into a 2-0 first half advantage, before a successful spot kick enabled Rangers to cut the deficit. It was all level once more just after the restart, only  for Widdas to regain a slender 3-2 lead.

But back came Rangers, showing great battling qualities, and they fired two further goals to pick up three more crucial points in this season's title battle with a memorable 4-3 success.

Anton Nesbeth notched two for Dudley, while Carrick Chaney and Jelani Roy chipped in with single efforts, the replies coming from James Gadd, Sam Bratt-Wyton and Dan Robinson.

Securing a third league triumph in six were Sedgley Sporting as they ran out comfortable 7-2 victors over visiting Trysull Athletic.

Although Trysull opened the scoring, Sporting hit back to take a 3-1 interval advantage, before running out clear winners. Doubles from Tom Timmins and Lee Edwards were supported by the trio of Greg Poole (penalty), Alex Trout and Tim Taylor. Replying for Trysull were Harry Clinton and Will Spruce.

While the leading pair, Brandhall Colts and Sedgley Rangers were without a fixture, third place Gornal Rangers kept up their good form in the Paycare Development Division with an eight success in 12, taking the points in a 4-1 home triumph over AFC Willenhall.

Two-goal Ty Markland led the way with a brace, supported by Liam Reynolds and Liam Cullen. Willenhall's sole response came from Robbie Abbot.

AFC Sporting Gornal missed an opportunity to climb into the top five after conceding two goals in the final three minutes and having to settle for a 3-3 draw at home to AFC Goldthorne. On target for Sporting were Luke Chapman, Cory Massey and a 25-yard scorcher from Grant Davis, with Wayne Marsh (two) and Conner Thomas replying.

There was real thriller at the foot of the table as second bottom Sedgley White Lions West ran out narrow 5-4 winners away to basement outfit Bushbury Hill.

Deadly finishing from Reece Dicken, who bagged an impressive four goal return, proved decisive as an own goal also contributed to Bushbury's downfall. The pairing of Archie Harris and Brandon Peters had kept things close with doubles for the hosts.

Kewford Eagles West climbed two places after emerging 3-1 victors at mid-table Sporting Black Country as Dillon Stokes, Jacob Bell and Adam Hall hit the goal trail for the former. Luke Baynham was on the mark for Sporting.

In a well contested derby encounter, Sedgley & Gornal United West came from behind to take the bragging rights 3-1 against S&G United East who had led through Dan Creswell at the break. United West struck back through Harry Hayden, Sam Allen and James Newnham to chalk up a fourth win in six.

Three fixtures went ahead in the popular over 30s section and Casuals FC extended their 100 per cent league record in the Mini-Pro Golf Parks Eastern section to three wins, running out 3-2 victors over a battling AFC Wulfrunians, with efforts from Billy Scragg, Stuart Hopcroft and Arran Muffett. Responding were Ben Jevons and Carl Harris.

In the same section, honours were shared as Old Oak Veterans picked up their first point of the campaign by holding Boca Seniors to a 3-3 draw. Rafal Gajda (two) and Joel Gordon netted for Old Oak, the replies coming from Chris Jones, Ashley Evans and Lee Blake.

On the Advanced Recruit Western section front, Emerald Athletic Veterans moved top on goal difference from AFC Broadlands, both of whom made it three successive league wins.

While Emerald were defeating previously unbeaten Springvale Albion Veterans 4-1, a solitary goal from Chris Nicholls enabled Broadlands to edge home against Shere Punjab Wolves Vets.

Report submitted by Beacon League