Wem Town win can lead to survival – Josh Gough

Wem came from behind to win 2-1 in the West Midlands Premier Division thanks to substitute Matt Cohen scoring a winner with his first touch of the game around the 70th minute.

Chris Peel had earlier drawn the struggling side level just before half-time after they had gone behind midway through the first half.

Victory moved second-bottom Wem to within two points of Shifnal Town, who lost 3-1 at home to Cradley Town, and within four points of Shawbury United, who disappointingly drew 0-0 with relegated Pegasus Juniors.

But Gough’s men have a game in hand on Shifnal and three in hand on Shawbury.

“We needed the three points because we were getting cut adrift at the bottom,” said Gough.

“If we didn’t get that win it would’ve been an uphill task, obviously it’ll still be hard because everyone’s got the points on the board and we’ve got games in hand.

“But hopefully that win against a good team will give us confidence for the remaining games.”

Despite three Shropshire sides desperately attempting to claw themselves away from the second and final relegation spot, Gough says there’s no added spice to the survival slog.

“We just want to make sure we’re not the team finishing second bottom,” he said. “Maybe as it is Shropshire clubs, it does make it even more important, but there’s no added spice.

“Ideally I’d like points on the board but after yesterday I know the team believe, if they keep showing the right attitude and effort there’s no reason why we can’t get three wins in the remaining six games.

“Two or three wins should be enough. The teams around us seem to be struggling and not winning games, hopefully it can be the springboard.”

However, Wem will do well to build on that victory this weekend when they travel to league leaders Tividale.

“It doesn’t get any tougher going to Tividale, but they’ve got their own pressures,” said Gough. “And the rest of the games we’ve got are against beatable teams.

“We’ve got to go to Dudley Sports and Pershore, who are around us, but we’ve got a couple of home games left as well.”

Meanwhile, at the top of the division, Haughmond missed out on a chance to go top for the first time this season, drawing 1-1 away at Pershore Town.

Haughmond completed their last piece of transfer business for the season the night before, bringing in Ashley Wells from Church Stretton to bolster their injury-ravaged squad.

A 90th-minute equaliser from Reece Taylor earned Haughmond a fantastic point against a much-changed Pershore side brimming with talent recently brought in from the division above.

But unfortunately it leaves Haughmond one point behind Tividale with three games remaining and puts the title back into the hands of their rivals.

Mid-table AFC Bridgnorth beat Dudley Sports 4-2.

Jason Pike scored twice, while Sam Owen and Myles Arnold got the other goals.