A last minute Mark Hickey winner against Dunlop secured a vital three points to put Kenilworth Wardens Reserves back on top of the Coventry Alliance division three table.

Despite Dunlop starting the better of the two sides with possession and territory, Wardens had the better of the early chances with Toby Wells seeing two efforts fall off target.

George Ferridge had the next chance however his shot was tamely hit straight at the keeper from close range.

Wardens best chance came 20 minutes in, an Eamonn Richards corner missed Dunlop's keeper and fell to the unmarked Sean Povey four yards out, but Povey did not connect well with the ball, with Dunlop managing to save it off the line.

What became a bad tempered, physical game descended into violence when a Dunlop player hit out at captain Ross Farquharson. However the referee missed the infraction and no cards were given to either side.

Wardens were thankful to veteran centre back James Carro for keeping the game level on 30 minutes as he managed to make an excellent goal line clearance following a good Dunlop move.

Wardens nearly took lead on the stroke of half time, when an excellent Farquharson cross was met by Richards' head at the back post, only for it to be saved off the line - Wardens unable to put away the ball following a goal mouth scramble.

Shortly after the break Povey won the ball back from the centre back and went into the box, however his finish into the bottom corner was excellently saved by the Dunlop keeper. Soon after George Ferridge had another chance however he put it narrowly over.

Manager Adam Maltby made quick substitutions in the second half bringing on Scott Patterson, Hickey and Cameron Holden, the quality and legs from the bench immediately improving Wardens.

Carro had another chance to take the lead. Richards' inswinging free kick was met by the unmarked Carro 10 yards out, however his flick header was excellent saved under the bar by the Dunlop keeper.

Wardens missed a further chance when Richards slipped in Holden on the right, his pull back fell to the unmarked Ferridge, whose shot was saved off the line. Richards also came close minutes later when his goal bound half volley from 20 yards out was blocked six yards out.

On 78 minutes Wardens finally took the lead. A good move started from the excellent Alex Bradley went out to Tom Hoey on the right. His cross was met by Jack Thomas, who controlled and calmly laid the ball to Ferridge who stroke the ball firmly into the bottom corner for his 11th goal in 11 games for the reserves this year.

Despite not threatening in the second half at all, Dunlop immediately equalised from an excellent shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Wardens pushed for a winner, Dunlop going down to 10 men with five minutes left following an excellent goal saving tackle from Farquharson which left the Dunlop player unable to continue.

Despite their pushing, the time was slipping past. When Holden won a free kick in the 92nd minute off the right wardens knew it would probably be their last chance.

Richards' free kick was flicked on by Bradley, Patterson excellently stopped the ball going out for a throw in and laid it to Hoey. Hoey's crossed was not dealt with by the Dunlop defense falling to Hickey, who rolled his marker before lashing into the top corner with his weaker right foot, for his first goal in a Wardens shirt.

Speaking after the game Maltby said: "Am I delighted with the result yes, am I delighted with the performance no not at all. We were way off it today and I'm only being critical on the basis of some of the levels and performances we have put in.

"These games will happen from time to time as it's difficult to maintain a high standard all the time but we were poor in the first half and they needed to be told at half time.

"I will say I was happy with the reaction, while again for my liking we weren't brilliant second half it was certainly a much improved performance.

"The real plus is we've won the game when playing in second gear really - good teams are teams that have the ability to do that. We'll do everything we can to ensure that takes us to the title."