febmr

Shawbury United were indebted to goalkeeper Mark Jones for securing them a point against
Ledbury after his second half penalty save ensured the game finished 1-1.

The villagers number one pulled off a fantastic stop to keep out the 60th minute spot kick
after defender Paul Matthews was harshly adjudged to have hauled down an opponent.

Joint boss Delwyn Humphreys admitted a draw was a fair result after Shawbury recovered
from conceding an early goal to hit back with a Tom Ward header from a corner on 25
minutes.

" With the wind and the conditions it was a bit of a scrappy match and there weren't many
chances for either side, " added Humphreys.

SHAWBURY United, still reeling from being kicked out of the Shropshire County Cup ,
managed to extend their unbeaten run in the West Midland Regional Premier League to six
games thanks to a fine penalty save from Mark Jones.

The Butler Sports Ground Club, who remain fourth in the Premier Division table, were not at
their best against Ledbury Town but still picked up a point from an uninspiring 1-1 draw.

Ledbury took an early lead but Shawbury were soon level when Tom Ward headed home a
corner.

The Herefordshire club were given a great chance to sink Shawbury when they were
awarded a penalty midway through the second half following what the hosts deemed to be a
perfectly good tackle from defender Paul Matthews.

But Shawbury keeper Mark Jones, whose younger brother, Welsh international Paul,
recently signed for Wolves , came to the rescue by making an excellent save from the spot
kick.

" It meant justice was done , " said Shawbury's joint manager Delwyn Humphreys. " The
wind really spoilt the game and the ball spent more time in the air than on the ground so a
draw was the fairest result.

" It wasn't a very entertaining game but at least it means our unbeaten run continues
ahead of a tough away game to at leaders Malvern on saturday."

Mark Pragg impressed in the centre of midfield while Phil Denson was solid at the heart of
defence, added the Shawbury chief.

Humphreys , meanwhile , says Shawbury are still coming to terms with the sensational
decision taken by the Shropshire FA to throw them out of the County Cup.

Shawbury, the holders, had been looking forward to a semi-final tie against Church
Stretton, who have now recieved a bye to the final, when it came to light they had fielded
an ineligible player in an earlier round. James Bajcer played in the 2-0 win over
Oakengates in November but was not eligible having played for Bridgnorth in the Shropshire
Senior Cup in July.

Humphreys, who had a 90 minute meeting with the Shropshire FA at their Gay Meadow
headquarters on Friday, said: " It was very hard getting the lads up for the game last
Saturday as they're still looking for answers.

" But what we've got to do now is stay fourth in our league and beat Newport and Market
Drayton, the two other semi finalists, in the league and prove that we would of won the
county cup.

" The annoying thing is it took the FA three months to find out about all this. We asked
James Bajcer about it and he thought he had played in a friendly for Bridgnorth against
Telford. He didn't know it was the Senior Cup so it was a genuine mistake. But it's gone
now and, however disappointing , we can't do anything about it.

Joint manager Alan Smith believes Shawbury can still make a late charge for the
Express & Star Premier Division title after an outstanding victory at table topping
Malvern.

The Wem based team inflicted a rare home defeat on the Worcestershire outfit with a
surprise 2-1 win on Saturday.

That triumph still leaves Shawbury 15 points behind the leaders but with games in
hand on all of the teams above them , Smith is refusing to throw in the towel on their
title challenge.

He said: " I have seen a lot of our managers in our league say that we are all playing
for fourth place because the top three are away and gone but anyone who says that
can't have been at this level for long.

SUSPENSIONS

" In terms of games played, we are only just over halfway through the season and
there is a long, long way to go.

" Any team can have a bad patch and injuries and suspensions also kick in at this
stage of the season.

" Everyone involved at Shawbury knows there is still plenty to play for and we will keep
plugging away until the end of the season and see where it takes us.

" We had an outstanding result on Saturday where the players were magnificent and
the only time we will give anything up here if it is mathematically impossible.

But we are no where near that stage at the moment."

Two goals from Tom Ward and Darren Evason put United in front while the visitors were
also denied what appeared two blatent penalties before the break.

Malvern enjoyed more of the play after half time and reduced the deficit from the
penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining, but Shawbury held on for a fine victory.

SHAWBURY United's joint manager Delwyn Humphreys saluted the efforts of his players
after they pulled off an excellent 2-1 victory at West Midland League Premier Decision
leaders Malvern Town.

The shock result , Shawbury's seventh away league win of the season , sets the Butlers
Sports Ground club outfit up nicely for Saturday's eagerly awaited Shropshire derby at old
rivals Market Drayton Town.

" It's another game to look forward to and we'll be up for it, " said Humphreys. " It's
down to who has the most quality on the day.

" We're pleased to be fourth in the table and last weekend was a great one for us with our
victory and Kington who are just above us losing at home to Lye Town.

" As long as we keep picking up points you never know what might happen, but
realistically a top four place for us this season would be great."

Humphreys had no hesitation in describing Shawbury's display at Malvern , the shell
shocked leaders as " Our best performance of the season."

IMPORTANT CUSHION

Early goals from Tom Ward and Darren Evason gave the North Shropshire side an important
cushion and they still held on even when they were reduced to ten men 15 minutes from time
when Nicky Guy was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Joint boss Humphreys , the former England non-league skipper, said " I've criticised the
lads for some of their displays over the last few weeks and i warned them that if they played
like it again at Malvern that we would get walloped.

" But all credit to the players as their attitude was great and the new system we played
which gave us a diamond shape worked well."

Shawbury were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead after just 27 seconds.
Newcomer Stuart Mycock sent over a deep cross which Steve Giles nodded back for Ward,
the former Hopesgate man, to turn into the net.

It got even better for the visitors in the 20th minute when long serving Evason picked his
shot with a cool finish after the ball broke his way from a goalmouth scramble.

Malvern, as expected made most of the running in the second half and clawed a goal back
from a penalty given against Craig Sanders.

But Shawbury stood firm , even a man light after Guy saw red, to hold on for a memorable
victory against the odds.

" We were under an avalanche of pressure in the second half, " added Humphreys. " But
we stood up to it well with young Chris Skitt marshalling the defence superbly at sweeper.

" Mark Jones also made a couple of great saves late on but overall i think we deserved the
result."

The Shropshire derby between Market Drayton Town and Shawbury United failed to live up
to its billing with neither of the E&S League Premier Division rivals able to rise to the
occasion.

It took a penalty from Nicky Guy midway through the first half to settle it in Shawbury's
favour and in a game of little entertainment at Greenfields a 1-0 away win was just about
the fair result.

If the crowd were expecting an end to end encounter with fluent football, they left the
ground disappointed but Shawbury boss Delwyn Humphreys was understandably delighted
with the win.

" I didn't think it was ever going to be a spectacle and there wasn't much football played
but it was a battle and we wanted to win it the most, " said Humphreys.

" We've got six or seven players who have played in this game before and Know what it
means and they shone for us.

" I thought we deserved the win because we created the better chances and had more of
the play."

HACKED

The result hinged on a spot kick won by Shawbury's former Drayton winger Stuart Mycock
who was hacked off the ball by Stuart Timmis after running rings around his former team-
mates during the early stages.

While Guy clinically stuck the penalty away, Mycock was left battered and bruised and had
to be taken off and is now doubtful for Saturday's game at fellow high fliers Heath Hayes.

Drayton created very little, other than a Luke Reynold effort that was well saved by
Shawbury stopper Steve Jones and Greenfields boss Lee Roberts is demanding an
improvement.

" It was a terrible game and whether the occasion got the better of my players or what i
don't know but it was kick and rush instead of playing the way we can, " he said.

" It's not sour grapes because fair play to Shawbury they wanted it more than us and
probably deserved the win."

STUART Mycock enjoyed a triumphant return to Market Drayton less than a
month after leaving the club to join Shawbury United.

Wide man Mycock consistently tormented the Drayton defence before
having to go off injured sfter winning the decisive penalty as Shawbury
enjoyed a satisfying 1-0 away win over old rivals in the West Midland
League Premier Division.

The only downside for Shawbury was the knee injury sustained by
Mycock which leaves him doubtful for Saturday's trip to fellow top five side
Heath Hayes. Mycock repeatedly stretched the home defence in the early
stages and it came as no surprise when he was hacked down in the 20th
minute.

He had to limp off injured but team mate Nicky Guy ensured Mycock at
least had the last laugh by slamming the resulting penalty into the back of
the net.

Shawbury's joint manager Delwyn Humphreys said: " The Drayton lads were giving Stuart a
bit of stick so it was good that he should play a part in our winning goal. It was a blatant
penalty but it was a shame that we also lost Stuart to a knee injurt because of it."

Humphreys was delighted with the spirit shown by his side and Shawbury might have added
to their lead late on with Steve Giles twice going close.

Drayton, in contrast, enjoyed little success against a well drilled Shawbury defence, with
Chris Skitt again outstanding, while returning goalkeeper Steve Jones was an assured figure
between the posts.

Humphreys added: " Drayton came at us in the second half and pushed three up front, but
Steve Jones took a lot of pressure off by coming for crosses and the back four were again
superb."

Shawbury , still handily placed in fourth , hope to be boosted by the return to the squad of
keeper Mark Jones, defender Paul Matthews and midfielder Mark Pragg for this weekend's
tricky trip to Heath Hayes.

But Shawbury will travel with a certain degree of confidence given their excellent away
record this season, having lost only one of their dozen away games in the league this term,
winning eight and drawing the other three.