HIGH-flying Littleton edged out Heath Hayes 4-2 in an entertaining Midland League Division One encounter to go second in the table.

The first 25 minutes were even with the hosts pressing hard but kept at bay by the Hayes defence.

Littleton’s breakthrough came on 26 minutes after a mix-up between the keeper and a defender with the ball running loose for Will Gayton to net from 16 yards.

Ten minutes later, Gayton confidently converted a penalty to make it 2-0.

Dan Holloway fired just over from Andrew Sheppard’s fine pass five minutes from half-time.

But the game was turned on its head in two minutes when Hayes equalised.

Joe Pickering scored from close range after a goalmouth scramble from a corner before Dan Scragg dispatched a first-time volley from the edge of the box past keeper Haydn Whitcombe.

Within six minutes of the restart, Littleton retook the lead as skipper Callum Clarke’s 22-yard half-volley screamed into the top corner.

The keeper pushed over a similar effort 10 minutes later but Hayes should have levelled when Scragg headed wide with the goal gaping.

Jamie Clarke’s seventh goal of the season from Gayton’s pass secured the points.

But Littleton then lost 3-1 at Bromsgrove Sporting in a midweek derby.

They beat Pelsall Villa 3-0 last week with goals from Jamie Clarke (2) and Sean Cooke.

Littleton host Coventry Copsewood on Saturday and local rivals Pershore Town on Bank Holiday Monday (both 3pm).

Meanwhile, Pershore lost 3-0 at Atherstone Town despite enjoying periods of possession.

Mark Latham headed in on 23 minutes and Greg Webb’s penalty made it 2-0 at the break.

Jacob Snape and Danny Carter missed second-half chances for Pershore but Atherstone scored a third late on through Alan Miller.

Pershore then lost 4-1 at home to Racing Club Warwick in midweek after conceding all the goals in around 20 second-half minutes.

Carter bagged a consolation for Town and was also on target last week in another 4-1 loss, this time at Nuneaton Griff.

Pershore visit leaders Coventry United, who boast a 100 per cent record, on Saturday (3pm).