A GOAL in each half helped Dudley Sports to derby victory and gave their survival hopes a timely boost.

Tom Russell gave the home side the perfect start when he volleyed home left footed.

Ben Wallace doubled the advantage on the hour, capitalising on a defensive error before sliding the ball past Robins’ keeper James Pemberton.

The visitors created few clear cut chances in a below par performance, though Mark Swann had a header cleared off the line late on.

Sports joint boss Tony Gore’s final whistle roar was probably heard in Pensnett and his joy was understandable, with the result moving his side eight points clear of the drop zone.

But it was a very different mood for that of opposite number Ian Rowe, the Robins boss forced to watch the final minutes from the changing room following his dismissal from the technical area for persistent dissent.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Robins who struggled on a difficult pitch but Sports fully deserved their win, coupling a greater desire with resolute defending, particularly during a second half where territory was dominated by the visitors.

In contrast the opening exchanges found Sports camped in their opponents half, duly getting the reward of the opening goal after just nine minutes.

A cross was cleared as far as Russell on the edge of the box and the midfielder connected perfectly to send the ball into the top corner with Pemberton motionless.

The advantage could have doubled midway through the half when Robins defender Sam Tasker headed against his own crossbar from close range, while Sports threatened again as Scott Mears shot wide after linking up with Nathan Phillips.

In contrast the Robins were lacklustre and failed to impress going forward, bar a couple of half chances for Mark Swann.

It was not until the final few minutes of the half they looked like scoring. First Swann just failed to hook in a Craig Ball free-kick after meeting Paul Henley’s knock down, before Marvin Nisbett missed the ball completely when one-on-one with Sports stand-in keeper James Taylor.

Sports have lacked squad strength all season and this was epitomised by the fact Taylor, who played despite suffering from food poisoning, is a regular starter at centre back. Nevertheless he put in a solid display and was called into action early in the second half to tip over a Ball shot as the Robins began with greater purpose.

Nisbett then showed good work to wriggle away from two defenders but shot straight at Taylor as the Robins upped the pressure but a second Sports goal on the hour, against the run of play, sealed their fate.

A long Taylor punt was missed by three defenders, allowing Wallace to nip in and race clear to coolly beat Pemberton.

The Robins largely dominated the final half an hour but could not find a way past a spirited Sports defence.

Swann missed the target when sent clear, the big striker being subsequently clattered by Taylor but his appeals for a penalty were waved away.

The introduction of Danny Ashton added some impetus but when Swann met the midfielders’ corner he saw his header hacked off the line. Robins players and management claimed the ball had gone over the whitewash but again their appeals fell on deaf ears.

That proved the final straw for Rowe who was given his marching orders moments later.