MRNOV

Shawbury were knocked out of the Shropshire County Challenge Cup by Telford based side Dawley Villa.

Shawbury started the game poorly and found themselves a goal behind after goal keeper Steve Jones brought down a Dawley Striker in the
box to earn them a penalty which was duly converted. Shawbury then drew level under similair circumstances as the Dawley keeper
brought down Steve Giles in the box and Steve Handley stepped up and converted the spot kick.

But then Shawbury found themselves 2-1 down as a Dawley player beat two defenders just outside the 18 yard box turned and fired low
into the bottom corner of the net. Shawbury then gave away another penalty as Steve Handley was adjudged by the referee to handle in
the box but the spot kick was well saved by Jones.

Shawbury started a little better in the second as Steve Giles levelled with a header from close range but Shawbury couldn't find another
goal to kill Dawley off and so it went to extra time. Tom Rogers came off the bench and scored from a tight angle to put Shawbury 3-2
ahead in the first period of extra time.

Then as time was running out in the second period the linesman failed to spot a Dawley player in an offside position who then put the ball
into the net which infuriated the management. And so it went to penalties which Shawbury lost 4-3.

Good luck to Dawley in the next round.

This game was all about character and how we responded to two previous very disappointing performances one against Mkt Drayton in
the league & the other against Dawley Villa in the cup.

Hopefully this has all been put behind us now as we bounced back in style to beat Pelsall Villa 4-1 at the Butlers Sports Ground.

The game was very close to being called off by the referee as five of the Pelsall team including the kit were lost and with only minutes
remaining turned up just in time.

Shawbury put in a much improved performance and even though they went a goal behind early on they showed better character and
equalised soon after as Tom Rogers beat his marker and fired the ball into the bottom corner.

Shawbury went ahead five minutes before half time when Jez Harman put the finishing touches to a flowing passing move. Steve
Handley scored for the ninth time this season from the penalty spot after Rogers had been upended in the box to make it three and then
Steve Giles came off the bench to extend the advantage in a comfortable win .

Shawbury put in a very pleasing performance away to Wednesfield on Saturday and ran out 2-0 winners but it took two second half strikes to
claim the points.

And with several key players missing this game due to injuries, suspensions and work commitments the lads who came in did very well
especially Lee Hamner who slotted in at left back for the injured Dave Timms put in an excellent performance and also young Danny Stevens
who came on as sub and got his first league goal for the club.

Steve Giles then made it 2-0 as he broke free of his marker and rifled the ball past the advancing keeper into the back of the net after being put
through by his strike partner Jez Harman.

Jamie Lee did very well in midfield as it was his first game back since the injury he sustained back in september. So it is very pleasing to see
that we now have strength in depth in the squad which is getting better all the time.

There was another solid team performance on Saturday as Shawbury brushed aside Wolverhampton Casuals 4-0 at the Butlers Sports
ground.

Shawbury took the lead as early as the second minute when Steve Giles volleyed home from close range from a Dave Timms cross. Both
sides played some good attacking football but Shawbury were far more clinical in front of goal as the prolific Steve Giles made it 2-0 in the
second half when he chested down a cross from the left and then put the ball past the keeper.

Giles then got his hatrick from a flowing move in which Tom Rogers cut the ball back across goal for him to steer home and make it 3-0.

Rogers who had an excellent game through-out then got in on the act when he beat his marker turned and fired the ball into the bottom
corner of the net.

Shawbury put in another battling team display when they overcame a tough Smethwick side to win the game 1-0.

Team spirit is very high at the moment with each player working very hard for each other and with another clean
sheet just goes to show how good the Shawbury defence is becoming with Steve Handley a tower of strength in
coping with Smethwicks dangerman Ricky Marshall and also Matt Bucknell in midfield who ran tirelessly tracking
back and tackling when called upon.

Goalkeeper Steve Jones also had an excellent game and made two good saves to keep Smethwick at bay, then
with around 15 minutes remaining Steve Giles chased down a loose ball going towards goal and nipped inbetween
a defender and the goalkeeper to turn the ball across goal for strike partner Tom Rogers to score from close range.

Nicky Porter a new signing from Ludlow Town came on as sub and was put straight into the action for Shaun
Humphries who played well in midfield but the heavy tackles he recieved earlier in the game took its toll and so
had to be replaced.

All in all a cracking result in a very tough encounter.