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Non-league round-up: Pitmen continue perfect record with home win

The newly-promoted Pitmen sit alone at the top of the Northern Premier League after three matches, after an opening week which could not have gone better.

Simeon Maye and Jonny Edwards, the latter from the penalty spot, got the goals which sent the majority of the 1,700-strong crowd at Keys Park home happy.

There was also joy at Halesowen Town, where a late winner from Milan Butterfield earned the home side a 3-2 win over Real Bedford.

Russ Penn’s team twice had to come from behind, with Jak Hickman and Jason Cowley getting them back on level terms, before Walsall academy product Butterfield bundled home from close range with six minutes remaining.

“We came back well, especially in the second half when we restricted them in chances and we went on to win against a very good team,” said Penn, who has now seen his team take seven points from their opening three Southern League Premier Central fixtures.

"The support was magnificent. They never stopped singing and it was up to us to reward them for that, which we did."

![Milan Butterfield nets Halesowen's winner.](https://resizer.nationalworld.com/3acd1570-1d6e-4662-bdc6-2c903b56de37.jpg?tr=w-300)

Milan Butterfield nets Halesowen's winner.

Stourbridge also remain unbeaten but were left wondering what might have been after returning from St Ives Town with a 2-2 draw.

Jenson Sumnall fired the Glassboys in front but and though it required a second half leveller from Tyrone Barnett to earn the visitors a share of the spoils, they were the dominant team in the closing stages.

“If you look at the last half-an-hour, we were massively on top,” said first-team coach, Drew Canavan.

“It was domination in the end. Their gaffer told me it felt like a battering and they were lucky to come away with a point. For us, it feels like a loss.”

The drama came early at Guiseley, where Anthony Dwyer fired Rushall Olympic into a second minute lead which they then held onto, despite coming under serious pressure from the hosts.

“I’m really pleased, they are a really good side,” said Pics boss Ian Long. “They dominated possession but I didn’t feel they created much.

“It was a real battle. A dogged performance. There aren’t too many teams who will come here and win.”

Stafford Rangers had a day to forget in the Northern Premier League West Division as they were beaten 3-0 at Shifnal Town.

But there was FA Cup joy for Chasetown and Sporting Khalsa, who both progressed through the preliminary round.

Chasetown edged past Lutterworth Town 1-0 thanks to Luke Yates second half goal and goalkeeper Curtis Pond’s 100th clean sheet for the club.

Khalsa, meanwhile, survived an early scare to thump Inkberrow Town 5-1. 

Noah Rubio put the visitors ahead inside two minutes and kept the home side at bay for almost an hour.

But Kristian Green’s 56th minute leveller began the turnaround, with Taylor Townsend going on to score a hat-trick. Chay Tilt was also on the mark.

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