Injury-hit Haughmond are clinging on

Williams, whose side beat Wolverhampton Casuals 2-1 at home on Saturday, described the 48 hours leading up to the game as his ‘hardest of the season’.

With injuries plaguing his squad, he managed to patch together a team that then won a massive six-pointer over third-placed Wolves.

Haughmond remain in second, seven points behind leaders Tividale, but with two games in hand.

“It was a massive win,” said Williams. “We were down to the bare bones. We had six missing, including top scorer Steve Hole, and we had two lads starting with knocks from Tuesday night.

“It was the hardest 48 hours of the season for me, chasing people round, but we did all we could.

“We were apprehensive turning up for the game, but the work-rate and attitude was spot on.

“It was an unbelievable win, in all honesty, it wasn’t one of our best performances. Wolves were the better side in open play, but we were clinical which was nice.

“We like to play football but it was a different game. Our legs had gone, we were clinging on, but ultimately the result is all that matters. In terms of the season it’s huge.”

Carl Rogers gave Haughmond the lead in the first half with a header and the hosts finished that half strongly, with Scott Ryan and Christian Oldham seeing shots deflected wide.

Ten minutes after the restart, Kev Renshaw made it 2-0 with a stunning strike from just outside the box.

Wolves made little impact on Sam Jones’ goal until the 80th minute when they broke quickly from their own half and pulled one back to set up a dramatic ending.

But Haughmond clung on and in the fourth minute of injury time, both of Wolves’ centre-backs were sent off, one for a horrendous lunge at Joe Parry and the other for remonstrating with the referee.

“It didn’t affect the game,” said Williams. “They were both sent off in the same incident, it was 94th minute. We took the free-kick and that was the whistle.”

Haughmond now have a two-week break until they face another tough test against in-form Malvern Town, who are 10 points behind them in fourth.

“They haven’t lost away from home all season, and only conceded six in 13 which is crazy,” said Williams. “It’s a massive game, but we’ve got two weeks off so hopefully we’ll get a few boys back.

“Tividale will be hard to catch, their run-in is simple, ours is very difficult. We’ve got five or six really tough games but we’re happy with the form we’re in.

“In some ways the break comes at a poor time, but with people being injured so it could be a saviour.

“Steve will hopefully be back for Malvern, he’s got a hamstring problem. He’s got 31 in the league so far, and would probably be the division’s top scorer if he hadn’t missed the last four games.”

Elsewhere in the division, Wem Town lost 2-1 away at Wednesfield to remain third-bottom.

Shawbury United also lost 2-1 on their travels, when they visited Cradley Town, and they are just three points above Wem in the table.

Shifnal Town continued the theme, losing 2-1 on the road to Black Country Rangers, and are a further two points ahead of Shawbury.

AFC Bridgnorth remain in mid-table after playing out a goalless draw with Wellington.