Chester Road new-boy praised for his impact

Nicholson was playing only his second game in the Shropshire Premier League on Friday, having been recently brought in from the club's Whitchurch League side.

And his 21-11 victory over Andrew Pearce proved vital in deciding a tight match on their opponents' green.

Nicholson lost his first game in the division 21-19 to Peter Bound in Wednesday's 10-4 away defeat to Meole Brace but rebounded strongly from that setback.

And Moss said: "He played for our Whitchurch League side and in his only two games in the Premier League, he lost to 19 and won to 11. He's done very well."

Nicholson's victory was one of seven wins for the visitors on Friday night, in a match which ended up hinging on the performance of the Chester Road middle four.

The teams drew the front and back four 2-2 but a 3-1 triumph in the middle section proved decisive.

The win puts yet more daylight between Chester Road, now ninth, and the division's lower reaches while Ifton are 11th.

And Moss said: "To beat Ifton on their green was pleasing because it was really quick and really difficult to play.

"They have got a lot of young lads in their team, which is good for the future but we just played it well on the night.

"It was probably a case of us having a little more experience. We have got quite a few lads who have played at Ifton before, including two or three who used to play for them, so that helped a bit."

Paul Humphreys' 21-13 win against Leighton Roberts earned him MVP plaudits for the visitors while Graham Rogers' 21-8 win over Ryan Bond was his team's biggest success on the night. Brian Hayes' 21-10 victory over Paul Smith was the hosts' best win and also saw him named their MVP.

There were also big away wins for seventh-placed Burway, who defeated Hadley, three places below, 9-5 while leaders Newport defeated sixth-placed St Georges by the same score.

That maintained their 23-point advantage at the summit over nearest rivals Sir John Bayley who won 9-5 at home to Castlefields.

Elsewhere, Bowring enjoyed the biggest win of the night, defeating Archibald Worthington 11-3 at home, while basement side Bylet beat Wem 10-4 and second-bottom Wrockwardine Wood surprised fourth-placed Meole Brace 9-5 at home.