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Shawbury are eagerly awaiting the referee's report from their E & S match at
Lye after claiming to have had one player sent off for waving and another red-
carded for trying to keep his shorts on.

They were forced to play almost half of saturday's match with nine men but
still managed to hold out for a 1-1 draw after Stuart Cave and Andy Oakley
were given their marching orders.

Joint manager Alan Smith was furious with the match official , who also
dismissed a Lye player , but stopped short of launching a full blown attack on
him for fear of disciplinary action.

" I've got to be careful what i say because i don't want to get into trouble ,
but we just couldn't understand some decisions , " he said.

Lye took a 10th minute lead from a corner before James Mackenzie drew
Shawbury level with a neat finish from a Steve Giles pass after 20 minutes.

But the real talking points took place midway through the first half and at
the start of the second half when the Shawbury duo were controversially sent
off.

According to Smith , Cave's dismissal came when he was given stick for
beating his marker to the ball and turned round and waved at the home
supporters.

TROUBLES

Oakley's sending off was just as farcical , says the manager , because all he
did was try to stop his shorts being grabbed at a throw-in and ended up being
kicked by an opponent and sent off for his troubles.

Smith was pleased with the way the rest of the team rallied round to grind
out a result - and insisted Shawbury even had chances to win the game.

" The first red card stunned us but the second one was ludicrous ," he
added . " We're just pleased to have got a point after such a farcical game."

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Shawbury United had two men sent off at Lye Town but still managed to pick
up a hard earned point from a 1-1 draw to remain sixth in the West Midland
League Premier Division table.

The home side also had a man dismissed with some of the decisions taken
by the referee totally baffling Shawbury's joint manager Delwyn Humphreys.

" It was a game where there needn't been any bookings , let alone three red
cards , " said Humphreys. " But the referee was atrocious , just as bad for
both sides. "

Stuart Cave was the first Shawbury man to be given his marching orders
midway through the first half for an ill-judged gesture at the crowd.

Humphreys revealed: " Someone shouted something at Stuart and he
turned around and reacted to it which was seen by the linesman . If there had
been 2,000 people watching i might have understood the decision , but there
was only a crowd of about seven. "

Shawbury were then reduced to nine men early in the second half when
striker Andy Oakley together with a Lye player were both dismissed for an off
the ball incident .

" Considering we had two sent off we played very well , " said Humphreys.
" We battled well and looked the stronger side so we could have snatched it .
But the overall performance was much better than our last two games so it
was pleasing in that respect . "

Lye led 1-0 at the break but Shawbury's nine men refused to give up and
James Mackenzie , their recent signing from Colwyn Bay , equalised in style
with a fine shot to the top corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Shawbury now hope to correct their unconvincing home form - they have
won just two of their seven home games this term - when they host second
placed Tipton Town on Saturday.

Shawbury United slipped to a disappointing 4-1 home defeat against title
hopefuls Tipton after losing their concentration and conceding four
goals in the last 25 minutes.

Delwyn Humphreys and Alan Smith's men were leading 1-0 for half of
the match after Andy Oakley stabbed home a free kick on the half hour
mark to open the scoring at Wem.

But a defensive lapse allowed Tipton to equalise halfway through the
second period before a controversial goal gave the Black Country
visitors the initiative with Shawbury appealing for offside.

From that point on , United failed to keep their concentration and
Tipton capitalised by knocking in two late goals , leaving joint manager
Humphreys worried by his team's recent slump.

" After their second goal we spent more time moaning at the referee
and the linesman than we did concentrating on the game and it cost us.
Considering we were leading with 25 minutes to go i think the result
flattered them a bit , although they are a very good side.

" Two weeks ago we were talking about beng in the top two or three at
Christmas , but now if we don't get a result on Saturday we could be just
above halfway , " he said.

" There's a big difference and perhaps that's where we deserve to be
rather than at the top but we're capable of being much better. "

The result leaves us sixth in the table.

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Shawbury United's miserable home form continued as Tipton Town
staged a second half fightback to run out 4-1 winners at the Butlers
Sports Ground .

The North Shropshire club still remain handily placed in the top six in
the West Midland League Premier Division table , but are only too aware
that better home form would have them making a strong title challenge.

Shawbury have won six times on their travels but they have
consistently struggled on home ground , winning just twice in eight
attempts.

" We just can't pinpoint what the problem is at home , " admitted
Shawbury's baffled joint manager Alan Smith.

" Last weekend was the classic game of two halves as we played well
early on and deservedly led 1-0 at the break. But Tipton came at us in
the second half and we really ran out of steam as Tipton over ran-us.

" But i'm not going to criticise the players too much as i thought that
Tipton were a very good team. Had it not been for some excellent saves
from our keeper Mark Jones , easily our man of the match , we would of
lost more heavily .

" Our division , rather like the premiership , has three strong teams at
the top starting to pull away in Malvern , Kington and Tipton , and
already it looks like the rest of us are playing for fourth place. "

There was no sign of what was to come when Shawbury went in at the
halfway stage leading 1-0 courtesy of an Andy Oakley goal , who reacted
quickest to find the net after a set piece fell his way. But Tipton were
unrecognisable after the break as they hit back in style.

The visitors ended up with ten men after Andy Smith was sent off for
lashing out at Shawbury striker Steve Giles , but the West Midlanders
had few problems holding on .

Shawbury hope to bounce back when they play their final match
before Christmas at Tividale on Saturday.

Shawbury joint boss Alan Smith hailed his side's best home performance
of the season as they overpowered Heath Hayes 3-1.

Goals from Andy Oakley , Andy Reeve and Steve Giles sealed the
victory and Smith could not hide his delight with his players.

He said: " It was a brilliant late Christmas present because it is the
best we have played at home since we have started. "

United have swooped to bring midfielder Nicky Guy back to Shawbury
from Newport and have also signed utility man Tom Ward from
Hopesgate.

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SHAWBURY United have strengthened their squad with a timely double
transfer raid to boost their hopes of holding on to a creditable top five
spot in the West Midland League Premier Division.

The Butler Sports Ground Club have signed Hopesgate United striker
Tom Ward , a long-term target , and have also welcomed back influential
midfielder Nicky Guy from a short spell with Newport Town.

Joint manager Alan Smith is delighted to have added both highly-rated
players to the squad and the new boys came off the bench to play a part
in last weekend's impressive 3-1 home victory over Heath Hayes.

Smith said: " Nicky Guy was only away from us for about six weeks as
he quickly realised he had made a mistake by going to Newport . He was
an important player for us earlier in the season and it's great to have him
back.

" As for Tom Ward , he's a very strong player who can play in midfield or
up front and he's got a good touch. "

HAPPY

Smith was a happy man after Shawbury finally found a solution to their
poor home form by seeing off fellow high-flyers Heath Hayes last
weekend.

" It was a really good team performance ," he enthused. " Hopefully ,
it will be the start of a good run of home results as we've struggled to
win at home so far this season . Last Saturday was just our third home
league win.

" Without a doubt , it was our best home display of the season so far.
There was plenty of fight and the lads battled all the way against a big,
physical Heath Hayes team. We defended really well.

" It's a bit unfair to single out individuals as it was a great team effort .

" But our goalkeeper , Mark Jones , and midfielder Mark Pragg were
both special. "

Steve Giles fired Shawbury ahead midway through the first half ,
pouncing to score after the keeper failed to hold a shot .

Strike partner Andy Oakley doubled the lead after the break with a
powerful shot on the turn from 15 yards.

Heath Hayes finally found a way past in-form former Hereford & Telford
keeper Mark Jones brother of Welsh international & Southampton
keeper Paul , from the penalty spot after a foul by Dave Timms.

FINISH

But Shawbury were determined to pick up maximum points and Andy
Reeve made sure of victory late on with an emphatic finish at the far
post after a flowing move.

Shawbury are now targeting a winning start to 2004 when they travel
to Wednesfield on Saturday.