Defensive errors costly for Shifnal
Shifnal Town were made to pay for defensive errors as they slipped to a 2-0 loss at county rivals Wem Town.
Matt Cohen and Dave Walbyoff got the goals in the West Midlands Premier clash.
The hosts made most of the early running and could have taken the lead in the sixth minute, when a ball in from the right was headed back across goal by Walbyoff for Jim Astley, whose shot cannoned to safety off a defender.
A couple of moments later, they did score as Cohen headed home, unchallenged, from Dan Price’s corner.
Shifnal’s first foray forward came after 14 minutes, when Ben Novis outpaced a couple of defenders to reach a ball down the right, but he lofted the ball over the keeper and the crossbar from 20 yards.
Wem got their second before the half-hour mark.
Immense
Jake James made a hash of clearing a through-ball, leaving Walbyofff the simple task of chipping into an empty net.
Shifnal improved in the second half, with Todd Brindle looking particularly lively, but could not find a way back.
Haughmond travelled to Cradley with a depleted squad and on the back of a midweek defeat to Tividale, but displayed immense character to win 3-2.
The Mond were forced into a change just two minutes in as Joe Parry pulled his hamstring.
They were in control though and went ahead in the 20th through a Jack Griffiths header, from a Kev Renshaw corner.
Chances to extend the lead in the first half came and went – Steve Hole and Adam Davies each having shots saved.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with chances falling to Scott Ryan and Harry Morris, but as the game went on Cradley committed more men forward and equalised with a fizzing volley from Kieran Day.
Haughmond applied more pressure but left gaps and the home side took advantage, going ahead through Daniel Danks with a quarter of an hour remaining.
The Mond soon grabbed a leveller though, with Morris finishing off a great cross from Ryan.
Morris was then taken down inside the area and a spot-kick was awarded.
Hole stepped up and smashed the ball into the net for the victory, which leaves them fifth in the table, seven matches in. Haughmond boss Dan Williams will have been delighted with the never-say-die attitude of his players – and also by the fact Aaron Simms made his first start in nine months following a severe knee injury.
Shawbury United have struggled to adjust to the division after relegation from the Midland Premier and suffered a 6-0 defeat at Tividale.
Dan Smith (two), Demetri Brown (two), Darragh Bustin and Tyree Clarke were on the scoresheet in a comprehensive triumph for Tivi.
Shawbury are second bottom, five games in, with a goal difference of minus seven.
AFC Bridgnorth enjoyed a solid victory at Crown Meadow, beating Pegasus Juniors 2-0 – extending their unbeaten league run to three games.
They are 12th after two wins, three draws and two losses.
