Kenilworth Wardens visited Dunlop Reserves in a game in the Bermuda league cup.

After two games without a point for Dunlop, and with Wardens firmly top of the table, on paper there could only have been one possible winner.

Kenilworth started brightly and had two long range efforts from Andy Legg hit over the bar. However, after 15 minutes Dunlop began to control the game, with Wardens struggling to deal with their work rate and pressing.

Despite Dunlop dominating Andy Whitehouse didn't have a save to make. Wardens could have taken the lead on 30 minutes, when their first corner was headed over, under pressure from Matt Legg.

Dunlop took a deserved lead on 35 minutes, when the Wardens defence lost the ball in their own box, Dunlop didn't initially capitalise, after three good challengers on the edge of the box.

However the Dunlop striker turned and struck the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

Wardens were hoping for a reaction in the second half, but Dunlop continued to dominate, forcing Whitehouse to make three good saves.

Wardens were fortunate to keep the scoreline 1-0 when a corner attack was initially saved by Andy Whitehouse, the Dunlop winger back heeled the ball towards an empty net, only to be cleared over the bar by the head of captain Tom Griffith, who was in a seated position at the time.

Dunlop did extend their lead on 70 minutes, when a poor pass in the middle of the pitch lead to a counter attack which Dunlop finally beat Whitehouse in goal.

Wardens did improve after going two down.

Pearson created space down the left and crossed for Legg, but at full stretch couldn't put the ball on target. Wardens came close again when Lewis Barry's header from an Eamonn Richards corner was headed slightly wide.

On the 87th minute, Wardens did pull a goal back. When Eamonn Richards blocked two clearance in a row, he found himself free in box, squaring to Guy Pearson who calmly passed it away - for Richards 10th assist of the year and Pearson's 17th goal.

Wardens last chance in the dying seconds was squandered, and Dunlop Reserves fully deserved their win.

"For the first time this year, I can hold my hands up and say we were beaten by the better side," said player-manager Richards after the game.

"We couldn't deal with their press and work rate on that pitch, they wanted it more than us. They're as good as team as we've played this year.

"Obviously disappointing to lose, we lacked quality all over the pitch, especially in the final third and some three or four players who had especially poor games - for the recent standards they have set themselves.

"Realistically only Whitehouse and (Roger) Kingston can come away feeling like they had their best game.

"I'm sure we'll improve next week, might be a mixture of playing recently on 4G pitches and missing some key players."

Kenilworth Wardens are proudly sponsored by LPC Sports Therapy and Yoga.

Lead-therapist Lily is a Level Four qualified sports massage therapist and yoga Practitioner, specialising in anxiety support.

Lily is trained to diagnose injuries, rehabilitate, and is fully recommended by players of Kenilworth Wardens.