CHURCH Stretton boss Scott Peever hopes his side will benefit from the pressure being off in their latest top-of-the-table battle this weekend.

Second-placed Stretton will go top of West Midlands Division Two with victory at leaders FC Darlaston.

But they head into that game on the back of a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to third-placed Gornal Colts – a result that has made it a three-horse title race.

Gornal are two points behind Stretton but with a game in hand.

Peever said: “We caused our own problems on Saturday. Gornal are a really well-organised side and if you gift them goals it’s an uphill battle.

“But, fingers crossed, the result takes a little pressure off because it’s not in our own hands now and maybe we have a bit more freedom to have a go at Darlaston.

“We want to win our last three games and force the others to win theirs – Gornal have four away games to finish and if they win them all, they deserve it. All we can do is try to win our three.”

Ludlow, meanwhile, slipped to fifth with a 3-1 defeat to AFC Bridgnorth Development. Tom Everall got Ludlow’s goal.