MayMR

Back-to-back Bank Holiday victories for Shawbury meant their heavy defeat by Tipton the previous week
became something of a distant memory.

The Wem-based outfit were 2-1 winners over Wellington on Saturday before they marched to a 2-0
success at Tividale just 48 hours later.

And joint manager Alan Smith praised his team after they fought back from the embarrassing defeat a
week earlier to keep alive their hopes of a top three finish in the E & S Premier Division.

He said: "We asked the lads to show their character and you don't get much better than six points out of
six over the two games.

"The players have been terrific and it would be wrong to single one or two players out.

"It has been a collective effort and the best way possible to forget the Tipton defeat and we were good
value for both wins."

The weekend got off to a poor start for Shawbury who found themselves trailing by a goal at the interval
after a poor first half performance against Wellington.

But stern half-time words from Smith and fellow manager Delwyn Humphries inspired a response with
goals from Darren Evason and a diving header from Steve Giles helped turn the game on its head to give
Shawbury three priceless points.

MIDFIELD dynamo Darren Evason looks to have finally overcome his injury problems and is playing
as well as ever, according to happy Shawbury United joint manager Alan Smith.

Long-serving Evason , a key man in Shawbury's climb through the divisions in recent years, has
had wretched luck with injuries, but Smith believes the influential midfield man is nearing a return
to his best form.

Evason certainly deserves a welcome slice of good fortune and he was outstanding over the Bank
Holiday weekend as Shawbury chalked up successive wins over Wellington and Tividale to stay on
course for a top three place in the West Midland Premier Division.

Pulling the strings in the engine room, Evason also managed to get forward to score vital goals in
both games, much to Smith's delight.

MASSIVE

" It's great to have Darren back ," said Smith. " He's gone through hell really with injuries but
he's back playing as well as ever. He's a massive asset to us in the centre of midfield."

An Evason strike and a diving header from Steve Giles cancelled out a half time deficit as
Shawbury fought back from a goal down to beat the Herefordshire club Wellington 2-1 in their final
home game of the season last weekend.

And it was Evason who was again in the right place at the right time, scoring an early header, to
set Shawbury up for a 2-0 win away win at Tividale on Monday. Andy Oakley added the second
when he broke the offside trap to score.

Tividale applied pressure in the second half but Shawbury stood firm with keeper Colin Smith,
deputising for the unavailable Mark Jones making three fine saves.

Shawbury , currently fifth in a congested table, head for Dudley Town on Saturday and former
Liverpool, Aston Villa, Rangers and England star Mark Walters is expected to line up for the hosts
before wrapping up their successful season at Ledbury the following Saturday on May 15th.

But Shawbury will have to do without injured pair Tom Ward and Darren Leonard for their final two
games.

Humphries struck in the last minute to settle a tight game which had seen numerous chances at both
ends.

Dudley had taken the lead on the half hour, before Andy Reeve levelled the scores just before the
interval.

The late Humphries winner keeps alive hopes of a top four finish for Shawbury, who travel to Ledbury
for their final game of the season on Saturday.

Joint manager Alan Smith said: "Dudley took the game to us in the opening half-hour but we managed to
get on top after that.

"It was a big win for us and we can now finish no lower than fifth place which is an excellent effort."

ANDY Reeve broke free from marking former England international Mark Walters out of the game to
score a vital goal as Shawbury United kept alive their hopes of a top three finish in the West Midland
League Premier Division.

Reeve was outstanding, totally nullifying the threat of ex-Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers star
Walters, as Shawbury scored right at the end of each half to pull off a 2-1 victory at Dudley, clinching
a remarkable 13th away win of the season.

" Walters was playing just behind Dudley's front two, but Andy did a great job on him and completely
marked him out of the game," said Shawbury's happy joint manager Delwyn Humphries.

" We defended superbly as a team again and it was a victory we needed to give us an outside chance
of finishing third.

" We really went for it towards the end, we pushed three up front and scored the winner with
basically the last kick of the match."

Dudley edged ahead early on but Shawbury responded well and eventually clawed level in the first
half stoppage time.

The home side only partially cleared a Shawbury corner and when the ball broke the way of Andy
Reeve he smashed a volley to the bootom corner of the net.

Shawbury were finally rewarded for their attacking approach with a wiining goal in the last minute.

Craig Sanders whipped in a free kick and substitute Shaun Humphries , the ex Ludlow Town striker,
gleefully turned the ball home.

Shawbury wrap up their highly encouraging season with a trip to Herefordshire to take on fellow
high-fliers Ledbury on Saturday.

Shawbury United's top scorer Andy Oakley said a fond farewell to his team-mates by signing off
with his 19th goal of the season in their 1-1 draw at Ledbury Town.

RAF man Oakley, who has been to dispatched to Gibraltar, bagged the point which makes sure
the villagers finish in fourth. Delwyn Humphries, who is jointly in charge of team affairs with Alan
Smith, said: "We've definitely made progress."

Shawbury do not pay their players and are hoping their brightest talents will not be lured away
by the cash of rival clubs.

ANDY Oakley signed off his Shawbury United career with another goal, his 19th of
the season, as the North Shropshire club closed their impressive West Midland
League campaign with a 1-1 draw with fellow high fliers Ledbury Town.

RAF man Oakley, a former Telford United player, is off to serve in Gibraltar and
will be a hard man to replace, according to Shawbury's joint manager Delwyn
Humphries.

" Andy's had a good season and done very well," he said. " He's a real character
and we will him well."

Oakley broke the deadlock ten minutes from time when he was set up by strike
partner Steve Giles, but Ledbury, who were reduced to ten men from the 25th
minute when one of their players kicked out at Darren Evason, equalised in
stoppage time from a disputed penalty.

" It was a very pleasing performance against a very good side on a terrible pitch,"
added Humphries.

" At the start of the season a top six was what we were aiming for but , depending
on the result of this weeks Kington v Ledbury game, we might finish as high as
fourth and certainly no lower than fifth, so we've had a good season."