LITTLETON are proving to be the big boys of Division Three of the Midland Combination if seven wins in nine games is anything to go by, writes Mervyn Collins.

Last Saturday's latest success - a 7-0 drubbing of hapless Brownhills Town Reserves - lifted last season's Worcester League champions to the top of the table in their new surroundings.

The only disappointment after another impressive performance was that Andy Robbins' side should really have doubled their tally - such was their domination over a poor visiting side.

Littleton didn't waste too long in building a platform for another goal feast after Brownhills' late arrival prompted a half-hour kick-off delay.

The prolific Des Cox tapped in a rebound after 12 minutes and, after Ady Wilde doubled the lead, Cox made it three goals in 19 minutes to virtually wrap up the points.

Steve Pitcher provided Cox's hat-trick on the half-hour and it was 5-0 four minutes before the break when the top scorer bagged the 14th of a successful league campaign.

Add to that a Curtis Major header that hit the bar and two "sitters" spurned by Cox and Phil Haines, and it was easy to record the superiority the home side enjoyed.

Cox seemed a certainty to create a post-war club scoring record of six goals in a match.

Twice previously he had matched the five-goal hauls of Chris Joynes and current secretary Colin Emms but it wasn't to be the striker's day as four gilt-edged chances were missed.

Admittedly, he struck a post and unselfishly squared the ball for Wilde to complete the scoring ten minutes from time, but Cox will have been disappointed not to have added to his tally.

The impressive Matt Cotton volleyed in the sixth just two minutes after the re-start while Haines, Wilde, Steve Pitcher, Darren Reeves and substitute Bobby Deacon all came close to joining in the rout.

The facile victory didn't really do Littleton any favours in terms of justifying their move to new pastures but on the evidence of their results so far, a swift elevation up the Combination ladder should follow.

"There's some good teams in this division and there's some poor ones," admitted committee man Dean Speake. "You've got to be on your game if you're going to beat the better sides. If we had gone straight into Division Two we might have struggled but we will obviously hope to be in the promotion shake up at the end of the season."

Nine new teams have joined the third division and most clubs will envy the excellent facilities and style of play on offer at Five Acres.

"Facilities have been good at all the venues so far and the officials are better. Travelling has proved alright and we've now got a mini-bus to make life easier," Speake added.

The club suffered a blow when former manager and last season's assistant, Neil Hunt, snapped a tendon playing Sunday soccer but apart from that setback, everything looks rosy in the Littleton camp.

"Crowds have been good - we're getting almost as many as Evesham United and we've got all local players which helps and it's been so encouraging," Speake continued.

Manager Robbins galvanised his squad during the summer with the recruitment of Wilde, Cotton, Bill Hiden and Barry Williams, while the boss has also used his business contacts to attract support.

A & N Home Improvements - Robbins and Hunt's company - sponsor the kit, while Willersey Provisions are the main club sponsors.

Financially, it hasn't cost the club a lot more in terms of match day expenses.

"Referees and linesmen now cost us around £50 per match, around £10 more than last year," revealed secretary Emms.

However, the regular match day 'football card' covers these expenses during a campaign in which Littleton have been coining in the goals and points - not just the pounds!