TEN-man Bromsgrove Sporting got over the line against third-from-bottom St Ives Town with a 3-2 victory at the Victoria Ground.

The win moved Sporting up to eighth in the BetVictor Southern League Premier Division Central table.

The hosts got off to a great start when former Worcester City forward Michael Taylor scored less than four minutes in after being teed up by Will Shorrock.

But Cameron McWilliams equalised six minutes later and then Sporting’s Leon Broadhurst was sent off on the quarter-hour mark for a challenge.

However, defender Harry Higginson, on loan from Kidderminster Harriers, restored Sporting’s lead in the 21st minute with a header from Greg Mills’ corner.

Rob Parker pulled the Saints back on level terms once more six minutes after half-time from the penalty spot after Jack Wilson was ruled to have fouled George Bailey.

But Taylor’s second goal of the game seven minutes from time sealed the home side’s win watched by 803 fans.

Banbury United moved to within a point of leaders Tamworth after recording a 2-1 home win over fourth-from-bottom Alvechurch.

A restricted fixture list due to the Buildbase FA Trophy saw the Puritans triumph with goals from Giorgio Rasulo on the half-hour mark and then Jannai Gordon with less than three minutes to go after Kyle Perry equalised for Church.

Church now visit Worcester Raiders in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup quarter-finals on Monday night with the game to be played at Malvern Town’s HDanywhere Community Stadium (7.45pm).

Raiders’ home game with Wednesfield in the West Midlands League Premier Division on Saturday at Nunnery Wood Sports Complex was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Evesham United conceded three goals in the first 21 minutes as they lost 4-2 to fellow Southern League Division One South high-fliers Thatcham Town.

Kyle Tooze, George Jeacock and Felipe Barcelos got the visitors off to a flying start at the Jubilee Stadium.

Paul Sullivan pulled a goal back on 36 minutes and then Adam Page forced an own goal nine minutes from time.

But Tooze scored his second late on to inflict Evesham’s first home league defeat of the season under boss Carl Abbott as they went down to fifth in the table.

Southern League side Redditch United bowed out of the FA Trophy third qualifying round 2-0 at Northern Premier League hosts Matlock Town.

Marcus Marshall on 55 minutes and Jordan Sinnott 15 minutes from time were on the mark.

Pershore Town and Littleton played on their travels in the West Midlands League Premier Division with the former hammering basement boys Cradley Town 6-0.

Matt Pinder bagged a hat-trick for Pershore with Jake Cavens, James Clarke and former Raiders forward Anthony Smith, who has joined from Littleton, also on target.

Littleton went up to third with a 2-1 win at Darlaston Town thanks to Taylor Morrison and Ben Billingham. Droitwich Spa powered to a 5-2 triumph at Team Dudley in Division One through Matthew Hunt, Jack Davies, James Lemon (2) and Jordan Cox.

Worcester Raiders Reserves went down 5-0 at Ludlow in Division Two.

Aiden Thomas (2) and Cameron Peters guided Westfields to a 3-0 home success over 10-man Virginia Water in the Hellenic League Premier Division.

The games for Stourport Swifts, Bewdley Town, Bromyard Town and Malvern Town were all postponed due to waterlogged pitches as was the Midland League Division Three county derby between Upton Town and Inkberrow.