A dry afternoon, with a hint of fog threatening overhead, provided the backdrop as Wolverhampton Casuals welcomed Foley Meir to Brinsford Lane for this North West Counties League Division One South encounter. Casuals emerged as deserved 2-0 winners, producing a determined second-half performance to secure all three points and maintain the pressure on the clubs above them.

Despite the final scoreline, it was the visitors who initially threatened to break the deadlock, with Casuals having to withstand some early pressure, occasionally aided by defensive uncertainty.

Casuals management made two changes to the starting lineup, after last weekends 4-0 win, dropping down to the bench were James Rowland and Abdul Seidu, to be replaced by Zak Postitt and Leo Wood. Both clubs and supporters paid an excellent tribute on Remembrance weekend, with the minutes silence observed perfectly.

The game started at a frenetic pace. in the fifth minute, Baker found himself through on goal but was forced wide, allowing the recovering Hutchings to block his 15-yard effort. Just a minute later, a misplaced back pass presented Turner with an opportunity to advance on goal, but Casuals goalkeeper Amos stood firm to win the one-on-one challenge and keep the visitors at bay.

Casuals gradually found their feet and were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 19th minute when Knowles was adjudged to have been fouled inside the penalty area. Cook stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, but his effort struck the upright and rebounded to safety.

The hosts continued to build momentum and came close again five minutes later. A superb ball over the Foley Meir defence released Sang, who found himself through on goal, only for Harrison in the visitors’ goal to produce an important save. From the resulting break down the right, Scott-Abel delivered a fine cross which Turner met with a header that also struck the post.

Casuals were now asking plenty of questions, and in the 31st minute Kirton saw his six-yard effort saved by Harrison following a goalmouth scramble. Both sides continued to compete as the half drew to a close, but neither could find the breakthrough.

Casuals returned for the second half with renewed purpose and immediately looked more threatening. In the 51st minute, Cook produced a delightful pass to release Sang, whose well-placed effort narrowly missed the target, passing the wrong side of the post.

The breakthrough finally arrived two minutes later. Gill delivered a dangerous corner into the Foley Meir penalty area and, following a scramble, the ball fell kindly to Cook, who reacted quickest to poke it beyond Harrison and give Casuals a deserved 53rd-minute lead.

With confidence growing, Casuals continued to press for a second. Gill remained a key influence from set-piece situations, and in the 69th minute his delivery from a free kick picked out Cook, whose goalbound header was comfortably gathered by Harrison.

However, Casuals would not have to wait long to double their advantage. Another excellent delivery from Gill, this time from a dead-ball situation, found Wood, who rose powerfully above the visiting defence to send a commanding header beyond Harrison and into the net.

At 2-0, Casuals had established a healthy cushion and showed the composure required to see out the remainder of the contest without allowing Foley Meir a route back into the game.

It was a thoroughly satisfying afternoon for the home side. Having weathered some early scares, Casuals grew into the contest, created the better opportunities and ultimately made their second-half superiority count.

Two well-taken goals, a valuable clean sheet and three important points leave Wolverhampton Casuals continuing to apply pressure on the sides above them as the promotion race gathers momentum.

Button Oak Photography did their best at Brinsford Stadium yesterday afternoon, looking through the gloom. Their images are available by clicking Foley Meir - Home.

Wolverhampton Casuals have a really important run o games coming up, Wednesday the club welcomes New Mills to Brinsford Stadium for a rearranged fixture kick off 8pm, and then they face three cup games in 8 days starting with Stafford Town at home on Saturday for an Edward Case cup tie.