Oakengates Boost Their Title Chances Ludlow Leap to Summit Gamble Is A
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CY TELFORD SUNDAY Three and easy as Haughmond close gap at top MERCIAN LEAGUE 35 HAUGHMOND closed the gap on second-placed football. They proved that by beating Haugh- Shropshire Star Cosford Bartestree to four points in division one with a WEST MIDLANDS LEAGUE mond, which was a game where I thought they 3-0 win at home to Gornal Athletic Reserves last might slip up. As it turned out, I was right.” Oakengates night. slipping up on Saturday with a routine 4-0 vic- Wem Town were largely indebted to hat-trick hold their The Shrewsbury side romped home through tory at Trysull, which left them nine points clear hero Mattie Owen after his treble at the Butler goals from joint boss Steve Rogers, Alex John- at the top. Sports Club Ground kept up their grip on fourth son and teenager Adam Davies, making his first They were up and running when Mike Evans place. nerve in start. seized on a defensive mix-up to finish, before his Owen’s prowess proved the difference, despite boost their Rogers, taking the team for the night with cross allowed Liam Bood to head home at the Louis Irvine’s goal pulling Haughmond level in other joint boss Mark Jenks on holiday, opened back post. the first-half, with two fine finishes before the a thriller the scoring early on from Johnson’s long throw. The league leaders were 3-0 up at half-time break. Johnson’s free-kick made it 2-0 at the break through Josh Bradburn’s tap in, after Jason He made sure of three points by completing his title chances March 19, 2014 Wednesday, COSFORD UNITED before Davies rounded the goalkeeper to finish, Pike’s corner led to Karl Griffiths being denied trio of strikes 10 minutes from time. emerged with the points as Haughmond bounced back from Saturday’s by the goalkeeper. Wem secretary Cyril Pritchard said: “Haugh- OAKENGATES ATHLETIC remain on course to claim the following a 14-goal Division 3-1 loss at Wem. Andy Hartlebury nodded in a fourth after a mond were a bit despondent at the end, but I still Mercian League Premier Division title after beating lowly Three thriller at Bulls Head Rogers said: “It’s job done, we did what we break from Kevin Buxton’s cross. think they will get promoted and I hope they do.” Weston Rhyn 3-1 on Saturday, writes Cliff Green. Dawley Bank Vets, writes had to do and, after defeat on Saturday, we were “I said to the players before the game that I Shropshire rivals St Martins, who have Goals from Dan Kibblewhite, Alex Devey and Matt John Tranter. happy to bounce back. We let ourselves down at felt Saturday was going to be a big day for us,” climbed four places from second bottom to 11th, Elsmore ensured them their 11th win of the campaign so The hosts, currently sixth Wem.” commented Bridgnorth boss Mark Clyde. now host Haughmond at Park Hall on Saturday far to keep them two points clear of Telford Juniors, who in the table, found the net AFC Bridgnorth capitalised on Haughmond “Wem are a decent outfit who play some good after a blank weekend. Hanwood United host have played three games more. six times but were answered Telford kept themselves within touching distance of the emphatically with eight summit, though, with a slender 3-2 win over Shifnal United from visitors, eighth, in the while Ketley Bank, third, remain a point behind them after league’s biggest scoreline of beating Wellington Amateurs Reserves 2-0. the day. Hodnet beat Bridgnorth Reserves 2-1 while Morda and Meanwhile, leaders Edg- Whitchurch Alport drew 1-1. mond FC remain unde- Division One leaders Oswestry Town got back on track feated after beating Barley after two straight defeats with a 3- 1 win at Meole Brace. FC 6-0 at home while sec- Childs Ercall, Bishops Castle Town and Wroxeter Rovers ond-placed rivals Randlay Bridgnorth net all kept up the pressure with impressive away wins. United stayed in touch with Childs Ercall beat Shrewsbury United 5-0 away, Bishops an 8-1 home win against Castle won 2-0 at Hanwood United Reserves and Wroxeter Duke of York. won 5-1 at Oswestry Villa. Coalport Tavern Oak- There were away wins Oakengates Rangers, 2-1 at Brown engates despatched Phez Clee, and Shawbury United Reserves, 2-1 at Clee Hill. United 5-1. Dawley Town and Rock Rovers played out a 1-1 draw. In the Premier Divi- In Division Two, AFC Wellington, third, edged out sion, defending champions fourth-placed Impact United 3-2 while a double from Steve Plough Inn Wellington re- Holland gave Claverley a 2-1 win at home to Highley Min- a shot at glory ers Welfare. main at the summit, having played two midweek league Ludlow Town Colts beat Albrighton Juniors 3-1, Os- games, against St Georges by Craig Birch westry Villa Reserves beat Denso 3-1 and Market Drayton Sports and Social and Park Tigers won 4-2 at home to Spalaig Britannia. FC. [email protected] COOPER’S MEN FLYING HIGH In the Shropshire Challenge Cup, second division leaders The team, which was in- Broseley sprung a shock when they knocked out Premier volved in the FA Sunday Division Church Stretton with a 2-0 home win. They are Cup semi-finals at the week- AFC BRIDGNORTH reached the Shropshire the third team from the third tier to make it into the quar- end, won both matches 2-0 Premier Cup final with a 2-0 success over ter finals. and 6-0 respectively. Shifnal Town at Wellington Amateurs last On Sunday Mallard SHREWSBURY SUNDAY LEAGUE missed the chance to leap night. above them as they lost 2-1 The undefeated West Midlands League Division One at Park FC. They are now leaders saw off their Premier Division counterparts two points behind their through a goal in each half. rivals having played two Liam Bood broke the deadlock at the Wickes Stadium games more. in the first-half, latching on to Mike Evans’ cross to volley Gamble is a St Georges made up for home from eight yards. their midweek defeat with Shifnal defender Lucan a 2-0 win against Riverside Cup rivals Spittle put through his own and Cressage Sports beat net after the break, turning safe bet for Shifnal North End 2-0. Kevin Buxton’s cross past In Division One, leaders will not hapless goalkeeper Vitor FC Bulls Head Dawley Bank Pinheiro. defeated Telford Rangers Bridgnorth now look for- 3-0 at home while Light- pass up ward to deciding the trophy Loppington moor Village climbed into with either Premier Divi- second spot by beating AFC sion side Ellesmere Rangers Nova 5-0. final shot JOSH GAMBLE’S hat-trick helped keep Loppington on or league rivals Wem Town, course for the Division One title with a 5-1 win at Norbury, Maddocks Sports and So- who play tonight. cial, third, lost ground after SHROPSHIRE Premier writes Dave Sandles. Boss Mark Clyde said: AFC Ludlow’s Jack Beaumont, centre, in action. Pictures: Mark Booth Dan Cohen and Matt Owen also found the net to give the a 4-4 home draw with Made- Cup semi-finalists Elles- “It’s an occasion to look for- ley Villa. mere Rangers and Wem visitors a four-point lead at the summit over second-placed ward to and we have done SAHA, who have two games in hand. Red Lion closed the Town will both be aiming most of the hard work by gap between themselves to pass each other off the In Division Two, Kyle Purslow scored all his team’s reaching the final. We will goals, including a hat-trick in the opening 15 minutes, as and Division Two leaders pitch in their semi-final to- have time to prepare for it, Minsterley beat Rock Rovers 4-1. Wrockwardine Wood 2013 night. too. to five points, having played Two young football- “Our league season will Saddlers edged out the Bricklayers 3-2 in Division Three six games fewer, with a ing sides will meet on be finished long before then, thanks to a Paul Ashley (2) and Mark Hadlington. convincing 4-1 home win the neutral ground of so we can work with the lads Sundorne beat Shrewsbury United 2-0 while Steam against Shifnal Royals. Haughmond’s Shrews- on the training field and be Wagon drew with promotion hopefuls Stretton Galaxy 2-2. Cheswardine, third, lost bury Sports Village, with as prepared as we can be for Unison snatched a 1-0 win over Bull In the Barne thanks ground as they went down the winner to face AFC the game.” to a Carl Williams goal 10 minutes from time. 2-1 at rivals Shifnal Rovers, Bridgnorth in the final. Shifnal player-manager In Division Four, Prince of Wales lost 3-2 to Nags Head while Hawkstone Arms won 2-0 at Wheatsheat. fourth, while Station FC Improving Ellesmere Richard Gardner admitted Shrewsbury United Reserves beat Monkmoor\Abbey 5-3. beat Foresters United 6-0. are treading water but lan- his side contributed to their Gareth Thomas and Tony Burnley both netted braces while New Woodcutter guish in 17th place of the own downfall and added Paul Bliss also found the net for the winners. squeezed past Hinstock Fal- West Midlands League that the tie wasn’t very In the A Rogers Management Shield, Peacock Corinthi- cons 4-3 and Dawley Social Premier Division, while pleasing on the eye.