MRDEC

Shawbury keep battling on in the league and got another good win on Saturday against Gornal Athetic.

This was Shawbury's 9th clean sheet in the league this season and just goes to show that they are now a very tough side to score against.

Shawbury opened the scoring early on when Steve Giles ran at the visiting defence dropped his shoulder sending a defender the wrong way and
fired high into the roof of the net past the advancing keeper.

Gornal battled well and had a good share of posession with their forwards causing a few problems to our defence with their pace but they
lacked that finishing touch in front of goal, but they could of equalised close half time when a cracking free kick struck the upright.

The second half started brightly for Gornal but they couldn't break down the home defence and then midway through the second period Tom
Rogers lashed the ball towards goal with the keeper making a good save but was unable to hold on and Rogers was quickest to react and
scored from close range to make it 2-0.

This was a game Shawbury really needed to win to keep in touch with league leaders Tipton but it turned out not to be as Shawbury had to
settle for a share of points.

Shawbury started brightly with Tom Rogers going close on two occasions the first with a header which some how went wide with the goal
gaping and the second was a first time volley which also went wide but then had to go off with a calf strain and was replaced by Darren Leonard
who did well on his first game back after suspension.

Steve Giles opened the scoring after Steve Handley headed the ball across the Bustleholme goal mouth and nodded home from close range.
Shortly afterwards Giles was brought down in the box and Handley stepped up to take penalty but the keeper made a fine save down in the
bottom corner to deny Shawbury. The resulting corner however was then headed in by Matt Bucknell to make it 2-0 and half time.

The second half saw Bustleholme come out much stronger and were soon back in the game when keeper Steve Jones brought down the lively
striker who picked himself up and duly converted his spot kick. Shawbury tried to hang on but with around 10 mins remaining Bustleholme
equalised. On reflection Shawbury could look back at the earlier chances which they missed but overall a point deserved by both sides.

Unfortunately the derby game against local rivals Market Drayton Town ended in defeat as the visitors ran out 1-0
winners at the Butlers Sports Ground.

Shawbury dominated the first half with several chances going begging for Steve Giles, Tom Rogers and Tom Ward
but the Drayton keeper was in fine form and kept Shawbury at bay on numerous occassions.

The second half saw Mkt Drayton come out a bit more stronger and midway through the second period their striker
Neil Gregory beat the offside trap and nipped in to score past the advancing keeper Steve Jones which also turned
out to be their only effort on goal.

Shawbury pressed for the equaliser and a Tom Ward header was brilliantly saved by the keeper yet again.

The final twist to the game saw Shawbury awarded a penalty close to the end when Steve Davies raced through on
goal but was brought down in the box and a red card was shown to the defender. Steve Handley stepped up but
yet again the visiting keeper made a superb save to deny Shawbury a point. All in all a good game but definately
three points thrown away.