Depleted Haughmond look to stay in the title race

Mond missed out on the chance to gain the upper hand in the battle for glory when they drew 1-1 with Pershore last weekend.

Victory would have edged them ahead of Tividale in the race for silverware with three games to play.

As it is, Dan Williams’s side go into tomorrow’s home clash with relegated Pegasus a point behind their rivals and with a mounting injury list.

Williams was dealt a huge blow last Saturday when star turn Scott Ryan was ruled out for the run-in after fracturing his elbow at Pershore.

Aaron Simms, Joe Parry, Jack Griffiths, Arryn Matthee and Matt Fletcher are among the other names on the lengthy list of walking wounded.

“I have never known anything like it,” said Williams. “We have 10 first-teamers missing.

“And to lose Ryan is a huge blow for us. He has scored 25 goals and must have 30 assists. He has been our player of the season and is really key to how we play.

“I will have to bring a few youth players into the squad tomorrow and I will be on the bench myself.

“It’s just a question of getting through the game, I’d take a 1-0 win and no injuries, and then see who we have back for the following weekend.”

Haughmond could secure second spot at least tomorrow if other results go there way.

“We could seal second place tomorrow and it would be good to get that done,” added Williams.

“If we could win our last three games we get to 90 points, then if that isn’t enough for the title it might be good enough to go up as one of the best runners-up.

“That’s the aim, to win all our games. But it won’t be easy.”

“On paper we should be winning the game tomorrow, but it’s all about attitude.

“We have to make sure our attitude is right and there is no excuse for it not to be. We are pushing for the title.”

It’s been a disaiter.

Wellington won 7-0 and Dudley Town beat Casuals 3-1 so that shows how hard last two games are.

Pegasus have nothing to lose.

Haughmond will be rooting for Shropshire neighbours Wem to spring a surprise at Tividale.

Wem head to the Black Country on the back of a key 2-1 success against Bewdley last weekend and with boss Josh Gough insisting tomorrow’s assignment is a free hit for his men.

“It’s safe to say we needed that result last weekend,” said Gough, whose side occupy the final relegation spot.

“I don’t think we have been playing that badly of late, it’s just little lapses in games that have been costing us. But “We put in a full 90-minute performance and got a good result against a good team.

“Tomorrow is a free hit for us. Everyone will look at the league table and expect us to get beat.

“I don’t think this is a game Tividale can afford to draw because I think Haughmond will beat Pegasus.

“So if we can stay in the game as long as possible that could play into our hands because Tividale will have to go chasing the win.

“We lost 4-0 to them at home earlier in the season but it was a closer game than the score suggests and they will know that.

“They know we will go there ready to battle.”