AUSTIN EX-APPRENTICES have been crowned Redditch & South Warwickshire Combination Premier Division champions after defeating closest rivals Black Horse 4-0.
Austin, for whom the prolific Andy Nicol struck his 43rd league goal of the campaign, are champions with one match remaining.
In Division One leaders Red Lion narrowly beat Redolence Park 5-4 after being 3-1 up at half time.
Redolence fought back and with two minutes to go made it 5-4 but could not salvage a share of the spoils.
Red Lion need one win from their final two matches to be certain of pipping second placed Studley Railway to the title following the latter’s 2-2 draw at Winyates Wanderers.
Railway had the best of the first half and took the lead with a Matt Rowland goal and a few minutes later they scored again when Roland Rignall outmuscled the Winyates defence and set up Marc Jovanovic to score.
However, in the second half Winyates stormed back with an outstanding display of determination to earn a deserved share of the spoils.
In Group One of the Subsidiary Cup South Redditch sealed top spot by beating Royal Oak Alcester 10-1 with four goals from Darren Gaffney and three from Aaron Brouch.
In Group Two Lodge Park beat VKL United 3-0 and in Group Three Beoley Village defeated table-topping Millfield Rovers 3-2.
