Prees crank up the heat on Shropshire Premier League title rivals

They came out on top on the Premier Division’s match of the day with table-toppers Oakengates Athletic.

Ryan Embleton’s brace was added to by Louis Williams as the north Shropshire side pulled off an exciting 3-2 victory, a 10th win from 12 league games this season.

Matthew Elsmore grabbed both goals for Athletic.

Second-placed Prees, who are at home to bottom side Shifnal United 97 on Saturday, are now four points behind table-toppers Athletic with two games in hand.

Third-placed Shrewsbury Juniors lost ground on the top two by losing 4-2 at Clee Hill United, a third successive defeat in league and cup for the county town side.

Craig Breakwell, Joshua Carpenter, Sean Millard and Adam Warren were on target for United.

Joe Pierpoint and Ed Rogers hit the net for Gobowen Celtic in their 2-1 triumph away to Madeley Sports.

Newport Town Reserves and Craven Arms Town battled out a 2-2 draw.

Callum Day scored twice for Newport with Craven’s Kelvin Sargeant matching that feat.

Basement boys Shifnal United 97 chalked up their second win of season.

They hit form to bag an impressive 4-2 win at Oakengates Rangers Youth.

Josh Ray, with a brace, Alex Causer and Luke Hester were the men who secured the win for Shifnal.

Coven United cranked up the heat on Division One leaders St Martins Village.

With St Martins having a week off from league action, Coven moved to within two points of their rivals thanks to a 7-2 victory at Denso.

Thomas Leatherbarrow was in four-midable form for Stoke Heath in their clash with Claverley.

Leatherbarrow netted four times as Stoke eased to a 9-1 success on home soil.

Michael Hannan bagged a brace with Helio Audre and Michael O’Sullivan completing the scoring.

Full grassroots football round-up in Shropshire Star each Wednesday.