AUGMR

SHAWBURY United's results will pick up , insist the club's joint managers Alan Smith and Delwyn Humphries ahead
of saturday's trip to fellow strugglers Coseley Town.

The Butler Sports Ground outfit continued their disappointing start to the West Midland League Premier Division
campaign with a 2-1 reversal at home to high flying Lye Town.

Shawbury's managerial duo said their team took too long to get going and were always playing catch up.

" We paid for a poor first-half performance," confirmed Humphries. " The way we played in the second half was
much better.

"It's been a poor start to the season, losing two and drawing one, but we have a good set of lads and are confident
things will pick up soon."

Smith and Humphries tinkered with their side's system and the players found it hard to adjust early on. Lye were
quick to take advantage and capitalised on defensive uncertainty to take the lead.

It soon went from bad to worse for Shawbury when they lost key striker Andy Oakley to a possible torn hamstring,
but they had a decent replacement to call on in experienced front man Jason Treharne.

Lye continued to call the tune for much of the first half and might of scored a couple more goals had it not been for
two excellent saves from goalkeeper Mark Jones.

Shawbury changed things around at half time, introducing Craig Sanders, and the home side were better after the
restart.

The equaliser duly arrived in the 63rd minute when Steve Giles was upended just outside the penalty area and new
signing Nicky Guy, the former Shinal Town midfielder, expertly bent the ball around the defensive wall for a fine debut
goal.

Shawbury then enjoyed a good spell and both Giles and Treharne went close.

But the winning goal eventually went the way of Lye towards the end when Shawbury failed to deal with a high free
kick following a foul by Andy Reeve.

SHAWBURY UNITED'S new joint managers Delwyn Humphries and Alan Smith are demanding a big improvement from their side in
Saturday's home game with Lye Town (2.45pm).

The Butler Sports Club Ground opened their home programme in the West Midland League's premier Division with barely a whimper
as they were beaton 2-0 by Brierley & Hagley last weekend.

Humphries, the former captain of England's non-league side, conceded it was a disappointing defeat and said right back Tim
Humphreys and midfielder Mark Pragg were the only players to emerge with any credit.

"We played very poorly considering the way we played down at Wellington the week before",

confirmed Humphries.

SLOW START

" We didn't get going at all and it looked like an end-of-season game instead of one at the start.

"It's been a slow start for us but Alan and myself always new it would take a bit of time and we've got a hard act to follow in Russell
Thomas who did such a good job for so many years with the club."

Shawbury's managerial duo are now contemplating changes against Lye.

For a start , they hope to give new signing Nicky Guy , the classy former Shifnal Town midfielder , his debut as he has now returned
from holiday.

And on top of that , Humphries and Smith were also planning to run the rule over the club's reserve side last night insisting that first-
team places are up for grabs.

Shawbury United's newlook managerial team Alan Smith and Delwyn Humphries were left disappointed after watching their side
squander a three-goal lead to be held 3-3 at Wellington on the opening day of the West Midland League season.

Shawbury looked set to make it a winning start after they opened up a 3-0 lead early in the second half with Steve Giles adding to
Andy Oakley's first half brace.

But Herefordshire club Wellington then fought back strongly to pull level, their second goal coming five minutes from time and the
equaliser deep into stoppage time to leave Shawbury shocked.

Smith said: "The lads put in a lot of hard work and feel shell-shocked with what happened. It's a bitter blow after being 3-0 up.

"But credit must go to Wellington because they never gave up and if we had been offered a point before the game we would probably
have taken it."

Shawbury started brightly and former Telford United striker Oakley fired them into an early lead from the penalty spot after he was
brought down.

It got even better for the visitors when Oakley, doubled the lead after a flowing move before the break. Shawbury must have thought the
three points were in the bag when they moved 3-0 ahead in the 55th minute courtesy of long-serving goal-machine Steve Giles.

Oakley turned provider this time, latching onto a pass from Craig Sanders and crossing for Giles to head home.

Shawbury were then guilty of taking their foot off the pedal but an own goal looked like being no more than a consolation for the home
side.

That was until the last five minutes when Wellington clawed another goal back from the penalty spot before pulling level three minutes
into stoppage time.

Shawbury, kicking themselves at throwing away a golden chance of victory, play their first home game of the season on Saturday with
Brierley & Hagley the visitors to the Butlers Sports Ground ( 2.45pm ) ko.