MRAUG

Shawbury are gunning for 'home comforts'

Shawbury United have issued a "no panic" message as they aim to put their E & S West Midlands League Premier Division campaign on track at
home to Tipton tonight (7.45). United suffered a disappointing opening afternoon of the season when they were beaten 4-1 at Kington on Saturday.

Darren Leonard had given Shawbury an early goal but braces from Chris Aspey and Danny Hill, including a penalty, gave Kington a victory.

But joint manager Alan Smith was remaining positive - and insisted himself and fellow Shawbury boss Delwyn Humphreys were far from down-
hearted.

"People will see the scoreline in the paper and think we have taken a pummelling but it wasn't like that," Smith said.

"Three of their goals came in the last 15 minutes and we could of had the game game wrapped up long before then.

"We were the better team in the first half and played some good football, but it wasn't our day.

"If we weren't creating chances, myself and Delwyn would be worried. This result hurts but we looked good and there is no panicking from any of
us here.

" It's another tough game tonight at home to Tipton but if we play as we did on Saturday, we will win more games than than we lose".

Shawbury are boosted by the return of midfield duo Mark Pragg and Shaun Humphries although Craig Saunders and Paul Matthews both miss out
tonight.

SHAWBURY UNITED may have opened their West Midland League Premier division campaign with a 4-1 defeat at Kington but the club's joint
manager Delwyn Humphreys insists there was plenty of positives to emerge.

Humphreys said the final scoreline was a misleading one and that his players could hold their heads high after giving a good account of
themselves.

Shawbury took an early lead through Darren Leonard but the real turning point came just before half time when their Herefordshire hosts
equalised from a harshly awarded freekick.

Kington, who finished third in the league last season, one place above Shawbury then went on to score three more times in the closing
stages of the game leaving Shawbury empty handed but still looking on the bright side.

" You really had to be at the game to believe it," said Humphries. "If you look at the result it would seem we were well beaten but that wasn't
the case.

"Kington probably did enough in the end to just about deserve to win but we might have come away with a draw.

"We absolutely battered them in the first half and we could of come in at half time 3-1 up but we didn't take our chances.

"I think all our earlier hard work took it's toll in the second half and we had a couple of players in the team who struggled with their fitness a bit
late on, but overall for our first game of the season we did ever so well."

With former Meole Brace youngster Tom Rogers enjoying a lively full debut up front, it was no surprise when Shawbury took the lead.

Kington only half cleared a Dave Timms cross and when the ball fell the way of Leonard the ex Shifnal & Ludlow Town midfielder drilled a 15
yard drive to the top corner of the net.

Shawbury could have doubled their lead shortly afterwards when Darren Evason broke through but with just the keeper to beat he fired his shot
straight at the grounded custodian.

Kington then pulled level just before the break from a hotly-disputed free kick, but Shawbury were again on top for 15 minutes after the break
and failed to accept three good chances.

The game changed when Kington then scored twice in as many minutes and they added a late fourth to clinch a flattering victory.

An excellent Tom Rogers strike early in the first half was enough for Shawbury United to claim the first three points of the season at home to
Bustleholme.

Shawbury dominated play from start to finish, but couldn't add to their 1-0 lead even though Bustleholme had a man sent off at the end of the
first half.

Shawbury just could not kill the game off in the second half despite all of the posession it ended 1-0 with Joint managers Delwyn Humphreys
and Alan Smith far from happy with the teams performance and said the only bright thing to come out of this game was the three points.

Smith said " We played well in the first 20 minutes and Tom Rogers goal was a cracking strike but from then on we just stopped," Smith
bemoaned.

"I don't know if we got dragged down to their level or what but it wasn't the type of performance me or Delwyn are looking for.

" But we looked solid at the back and hopefully we can get another clean sheet against Dudley on Wednesday night."

SHAWBURY UNITED opened their first home game of the season with a 0-0 draw against title favourites Tipton Town at the Butler Sports
Ground on Wednesday night , Shawbury started brightly and could of opened the scoring soon after kick off as a Shaun Humphries
strike just went wide of the upright.

Tipton had a golden chance to take the lead just before half time but the striker scuffed his shot and the ball went straight into the arms
of goalkeeper Steve Jones

The second half was much the same as Shawbury frustrated the visitors by not letting them play and so cancelled each other out for
long periods, towards the end of the second period Shawbury came on strong and were a little unlucky not to grab the three points as
Tipton were put on the back foot with Tom Rogers and Steve Giles both going close.

Joint manager Alan Smith said "Wednesday's result has put everyone in high spirits as it was a good performance from all concerned
and with a bit more luck we could of won 1 or even 2-0." but overall a fair result and a share of the points.

Shawbury United made it two home wins in four days as they defeated Dudley Town 2-1 in a hard fought victory on Wednesday evening in the
Express & Star West Midland Regional Premier League are now upto fourth place.

Shawbury were quickest out of the blocks and opened up an 2-0 lead through Tom Rogers & Andy Reeve in the early stages, Shawbury could
of gone further ahead after a well worked free kick fell to Steve Giles who's shot on the volley was well saved by the visiting keeper who was
called upon on several occasions to keep the score down.

Dudley then pulled a goal back midway through the first half from close range to reduce the deficit. The second half as expected saw Dudley
come out strongly but they could not break down the Shawbury defence who stood firm to claim all three points.

SHAWBURY UNITED are among the early front runners in the West Midland League Premier Division after winning three
of their opening five games.

It's a start which has delighted the club's joint managers Delwyn Humphreys and Alan Smith, with confidence sky
high around the Butler Sports Ground-based outfit.

Shawbury produced their best display of the season to date at the weekend when they ran out impressive 3-1 winners
at Herefordshire side Bromyard Town.

Goals from Tom Rodgers, Steve Giles and Steve Handley wrapped up an excellent win, much to the satisfaction of
joint boss Humphreys.

"I think Bromyard will be a tough team to beat this season, particularly in their home games so it was a great result
and a great team performance by us," he said.

" Bromyard have got a lovely pitch and it suited our style and to be fair we dominated the game."

Exciting striker Tom Rogers gave Shawbury the leadwith a fine diving header from a Shaun Humphries cross.

Bromyard were soon level when goalkeeper Steve Jones fumbled a tame shot into his own net, but Shawbury
responded well and scored twice more before the break.

The hard working Steve Giles grabbed a deserved first goal of the season after a long clearance fell his way and he slid
the ball past the advancing keeper into the net.

And then Giles was pulled down in the box by the keeper as he tried to round him, paving the way for big defender Handley to slot in the resulting
penalty.

Shawbury might have further increased their lead in the second half, creating the better chances, but joint boss Humphries was pleased with a
3-1 victory.

" We've got an horrendous fixture list for the first couple of months of the season, playing every midweek as well as Saturday's," he added.

" We've already played what i think are the best three sides in the divisionso we've just got to keep it going now."