DESPITE reaching the top of the West Midlands League table, boss Dave King has insisted his Tividale stars will not be getting carried away.

A brace apiece from Dan Smith and Joe Lawley, as well as a Demetri Brown strike sealed their side a 5-3 victory away at Black Country rivals Cradley Town.

Tividale were dominant from the start, heading into half time with a 4-1 lead, but Cradley came out of the gates stronger in the second 45 and a pair of goals cut the deficit to one.

But a contentious penalty with just 10 minutes left in the match made the game more comfortable than it might have been for the visitors.

The victory lifts Tivi over league pacesetters Wolverhampton Sporting, who were in FA Vase action on Saturday.

King said: “I was very pleased with the performance and the result. Cradley are an excellent team with some terrific players so we knew we would have to be at the top of our game to beat them.

“It was one of those games where everything came together – especially in the first half. At half time I asked the lads to keep it tight, but Cradley scored two good goals in quick succession which put us under pressure, but we fought back well and deserved the win.”

King will be hoping his side can stay top as they welcome another top side to The Beeches on Saturday in the form of third placed Black Country Rangers (3pm kick-off).

“We’re not getting carried away by going top,” King said. “It’s nice to be there though as people expected us to be the whipping boys this season after two successive relegations.

“I know it’s cliché but you don’t win anything in December. We’re not even half way through the season yet and there’s still plenty of football to play.

“The players will keep their feet on the ground and just try to keep the good results going.

“It’s going to be tough against Black Country Rangers who are a really good team and I was very impressed by them when we played them a few weeks ago in a game which finished 2-2.

“It was a very good game and we will have to be at our best once again.”