BEWDLEY Town blew their chances of closing the gap on the West Midlands League Premier Division frontrunners after crashing to a 4-1 beating by Black Country Rangers.

Below par Bewdley were a goal down within three minutes when Shaquile Leachman-Whittington opened the scoring after latching onto a mistake by goalkeeper Joe Siddaway.

Ben Birch bagged a second goal for Rangers before Bewdley's task became even harder when they had Richard Costello sent off after 53 minutes.

Within two minutes of his departure Leachman-Whittington found himself unmarked to waltz around Siddaway for a third goal before Shaquile McDonald was left in the clear to make it 4-0.

Bewdley did bag a belated consolation when Jason Wellings netted in the 89th minute.

Bewdley spokesman Steve Godfrey said: "It was an abject performance.

"No disrespect to anyone, but we seemed to play better when we went down to 10 men.

"The sending off was harsh, but the referee didn't like the way Richard went in for the challenge and I think he was influenced by a number of Black Country players who surrounded him.

"But that doesn't excuse our performance. It's best was forgotten.

"We knew Black Country would be up for this game having beaten them 7-1 earlier in the season but we didn't perform."

As a result, Bewdley slip back to sixth spot in the table but still only remain six points adrift of league leaders Wolves Sporting Community.

Bewdley bid to bounce back this Saturday when they entertain strugglers Stone Old Alleynians at Ribbesford Meadow.

The reserves West Midlands League Division Two game against Bridgnorth Town was called off after Bridgnorth claimed they couldn't raise a team.