FECKENHAM boss Lee Adams admitted that his side used their get out-of-jail card against a vastly-improved Southam side.

Despite the visitors being anchored to the bottom of the Midlands Combination Premier League, Feckenham were made to work hard for their narrow victory with Adams later admitting his side were poor on the day.

Striker Brian Powell managed his 10th goal of the season from a Steve Ferguson cross halfway through the first half to put them ahead but Feckenham went on to miss a hatful of chances.

And they were made to pay with 20 minutes left on the clock when Southam, fielding five new players, equalised after sloppy defending.

The home side, third in the table, were heading for a draw but striker Stuart Douglas saved his team's blushes when he fired home from Kevin Leggitt's cross.

"To be honest Southam really did deserve a draw," admitted Adams. "We didn't play very well at all and our defending was particularly poor. It just goes to show what a competitive league this is. All the teams are capable of taking points off each other."

Adams has a quartet of players back in contention although Gary Beadling is out. Defenders Mark Davis, Simon Redhead, John Oliver and James Harper are the men all inline for recalls.

n Feckenham are through to the quarter finals of the Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup after a 1-0 victory over Midland Combination Division 1 outfit Littleton last Wednesday night.