BEWDLEY Town grabbed some much needed points to move away from the West Midlands League Premier Division relegation zone by edging out fellow strugglers 1-0 on Saturday.

A Steve Holt strike was enough to give Bewdley Town victory in a game touted as a six-pointer.

The midfielder curled home a free-kick from the edge of the box on 50 minutes after he had been felled by Sports defender Ash Pountney.

Bewdley had the better of the second period but striker Lewis Pountney squandered two great chances to make the game safe.

They were nearly made to pay, as Sports' Ash Pountney somehow failed to hit the target with a simple header in stoppage time after Mitch Lester’s free-kick hit the underside of the bar.

Sports probably edged a first half which was short on goalmouth action. It was not until the 23rd minute that either side managed a worthwhile attempt on goal, Ben McLoughlin shooting wide for the visitors.

Ash Pountney should then have put Sports in front on the half hour but headed the wrong side of the far post after meeting Lee Dimmock’s free-kick unmarked, two yards out.

Richard Esp also fired over for the hosts, while at the other end Sports’ keeper Matthew Sidaway dealt comfortably with tame efforts from Grant Joshua and Lewis Pountney.

The decisive moment came five minutes into the second half as Pountney tripped Holt on the edge of the Dudley box.

The four man defensive wall did not appear to be 10 yards back but that proved irrelevent as Holt whipped a delightful effort into the top corner.

Moments later it should have been two. Sidaway sliced a clearance straight into the path of Pountney but the striker somehow side-footed wide of the open goal.

His afternoon got worse on 69 minutes as another poor Sidaway clearance fell invitingly into his path and again he missed the target, shooting weakly wide of the post with just the out of position keeper to beat.

Holt then struck the post directly from a corner as Bewdley continued to threaten.

But Sports rallied strongly at the death and Bewdley stopper Tom Harper did well to hold Nathan Phillips’ header from substitute Mitch Lester’s free-kick.

In stoppage time the hosts then twice went agonisingly close to levelling.

First, Lester’s curling free-kick crashed against the underside of the bar with Harper helpless. The ball bounced straight to Pountney who, in acres of space, could only direct his header high over the bar.