janmr

Shawbury are a team enjoying their start to 2004 as they broke into the top five for
the first time.

But joint manager Alan Smith has expressed some disappointment that his team
are not two points better off after cinceding an injury time equaliser in their 1-1
draw at Wednesfield on saturday.

A first half goal from Steve Giles appeared to have put the away day specialists on
course for another three points on their travels , before they were hit by the
sickening late blow.

Smith said: " It was definately two points lost and it was very frustrating because
it was a game we played very well in and it was no exaggeration to say we could
have been five goals up after 20 minutes.

" We played some super stuff and it was one of those days when their goalkeeper
saved it with his face , hit his body and just about anything else and you got the
feeling they were going to get something and so it turned out . "

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SHAWBURY United have a golden chance to consolidate their top five place in the
West Midland League in the next few days with successive home games against mid-
table sides.

Bromyard head for the Butlers Sports Ground on Saturday with another home game
to follow on Tuesday night against Lye Town.

Shawbury are extra keen to return to winning ways after having to settle for a 1-1
draw from a game they dominated at Wednesbury last weekend.

To compound misery , Shawbury missed a hatfull of chances to add to Steve Giles's
first-half strike before conceding a cruel equaliser two minutes into stoppage time.

" It was two points chucked away , " bemoaned Shawbury's joint manager Alan
Smith . " We could have been five up in the first 20 minutes alone and we really
commanded the whole game.

COMPOSURE

" To be fair , their keeper has done exceptionally well, not that he knew a lot about
some of the saves he made early on from Steve Giles and Tom Ward when the ball just
kept hitting him. "

Smith said he could not have asked much more from his players except a little more
composure in front of goal.

Ward, who made his full debut after his arrival from Hopesgate United , went close on
several occasions , as did strike partner Steve Giles, Andy Reeve and James
Mackenzie.

Smith said, given the way the game went , there was a certain air of inevitability
about Wednesbury's late leveller from one of the few efforts on goal the home side
mustered.

Shawbury , incredibly , may have even ended up empty handed had it not been for a
terrific save from goalkeeper Mark Jones right at the death.

Shawbury United joint boss Delwyn Humphreys joked that his side were " getting
dizzy " after they moved upto fourth in the Express & Star Premier Division by
beating Bromyard.

Tom Ward's disputed goal after 20 minutes was enough to secure three points
against the Herefordshire club after a game of two halves at the Butler sports ground
in Wem.

Humphreys admitted there was a hint of offside about the winner which came
against the run of play with Shawbury failing to get their act together in the first 45
minutes.

" Even though we scored we didn't play very well in the first half ," he said. " We
gave them a roasting at half time and then we defended well and deserved to win.

" It's moved us up to fourth so we're getting a bit dizzy but in fairness the top three
are already pulling away so we've just got to make sure we stay in the pack. " he
added.

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Tom Ward grabbed his first goal in Shawbury United colours following his recent
move from Hopesgate United to lift the Butler sports Ground club into the top four
in the West Midland Regional Premier League.

Ward did what all good players should and played to the whistle to claim the only
goal of the game as Shawbury saw off Bromyard Town 1-0.

The goal was hotly contested by the Herefordshire visitors who were all guilty of
stopping in the belief that Andy Oakley was offside.

But the referee deemed Oakley not to be interfering with play and Ward ran
through and neatly rounded the keeper to wrap up three welcome points.

" It was nice for Tom to get his first goal for the club, " said Shawbury's boss
Delwyn Humphreys. " It was his third game for the club , his second start , and i'm
sure he will prove to be a good signing for us. "

Humphreys admitted Shawbury were fortunate to be ahead at the halfway stage
as he felt the North Shropshire Club were not firing on all cylinders.

But the home side were better in the second half with Nicky Guy, who has
returned to the club after a brief spell with Newport Town, prompting well from
midfield.

" Nicky makes a big difference to us , " added Humphreys , who is delighted to
have the former Shifnal Town man back on board.

Humphreys said it was nice for Shawbury to be up to fourth spot in the table and
he insists the target is to now hold down their top four place.

He said: " The top three sides in the league , Malvern, Tipton and Kington , are
quite a bit clear and to be fair they look to be better than us and the other teams in
the division. But if we can get a top six finish this season it will go down as a good
achievement for us. "

Shawbury continue their defence of the Shropshire County Challenge Cup this
weekend when they host Morda United.

Shawbury United progressed to the next stage of the Premier League Cup with a 1-0
win over Lye Town at the Butler Sports Ground.

James Mackenzie's goal on 20 minutes was enough to decide the tie after he
pounced to force the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

Shawbury used the game to give several of their promising youngsters a run out
and joint boss Delwyn Humphreys said his team were worthy of the win.

" We could have been two or three nil up so we deserved to go through and the
fringe players we put in did really well, " he added.

Holders Shawbury remain quietly confident of hanging on to the Shropshire
Challenge Cup silverware after squeezing through to the last four of the
competition.

But Delwyn Humphreys and Alan Smith's Express & Star premier division side had
to come from behind to beat division one strugglers Morda as their quarter final
clash went into extra time.

The villagers thought they'd got their preperations right but were stunned when
Morda came out with all guns blazing and took the lead through a Neil Jones
header.

And it took a scrappy equaliser from Shawbury substitute Darren Evason 10
minutes from the end to stave off a potential shock.

Shawbury made the most of their late rescue act by bossing the game from then
on and further goals from Evason & Steve Giles in the second period of extra time
saw them through.

Morda were forced to play the second half wearing orange bibs to avoid a colour
clash because both sides had yellow and blue in their kits causing confusion for
the officials before the break.

Holders SHAWBURY UNITED found it almost as hard going at home to Morda United
before eventually winning 3-1 after extra time.

Shawbury trailed 1-0 at half time and some strong words needed to be said by the
management team Delwyn Humphreys and Alan Smith at the break.

They decided to send on long serving Darren Evason to inject some much needed
enthusiasm and the change had the desired affect.

Evason has only recently resumed playing after breaking his leg for a second time
and he was not even going to be included among the subs for this tie.

But Shawbury are mighty glad he was available and he turned the game the home
side's way by scoring twice to seal their place in the last four.

Evason equalised ten minutes from time , heading in from close range following a
goalmouth scramble.

Steve Giles edged Shawbury ahead in the second period of extra time before Evason
put the tie out of Morda's reach with a cool finish into the bottom corner of the net
after he beat two players.

PASSIONATE

" Darren's been at Shawbury a long time and is very passionate and that's why we
sent him on to get us going," said joint boss Humphreys.

" We made it difficult for ourselves in the first half and might have come in 2-0 down
instead of 1-0. The first half was as bad as we've played all season and i said to the
lads at half time it had been embarrassing to watch.

" But we were better in the second half and we needed to be as Morda came with a
game plan and gave everything.

" It's just nice to be in the semis and i dont think it matters who we draw now as
there's no easy games when you get to this stage of the competition.

Shawbury strengthened their grip on fourth place in the E & S West Midland
Premier Division but their management duo were far from impressed with their
performance in the 3-1 victory over bottom club Coseley.

Co-bosses Delwyn Humphreys and Alan Smith accused their players of making
hard work of the win after the match was held up for a length of time after a
serious injury.

Despite starting slowly Shawbury took the lead after 15 minutes when Tim
Humphreys bundled the ball in from a Craig Sanders freekick which was spilled by
the keeper.

And before they had chance to find any fluency the game was stopped while
Coseley player Wayne Gosling recieved treatment and was taken to hospital with a
badly twisted and broken ankle following a challenge from Tom Ward.

SOLO GOAL

After the restart Shawbury were similarly shoddy and although Tom Ward poked
home a cross and James Mackenzie scored a brilliant solo goal, the win was more
important than the display.

Humphreys said: " We didn't really get going and the nasty injury to their lad
didn't help because the game was stopped for a long time. We weren't happy with
the way we played but getting three points is the main thing."

SHAWBURY United , who have developed the knack of winning
without particularly well, know they need to lift their game for
Saturday's trip to county rivals Newport Town.

Shawbury made hard work of beating rock-bottom Coseley 3-1
last weekend to consolidate their impressive top four spot in the
West Midland League Premier Division.

Joint manager Delwyn Humphreys considered it to be
Shawbury's worst performance of the season with the three points
banked the only shining light.

But both he and fellow boss Alan Smith are expecting much
more at Shropshire rivals Newport when Shawbury will be boosted
by the return of key duo Mark Pragg and Steve Giles , both rested
last weekend.

" We'll prepare right for saturday, " said Humphreys.

" We're not playing well at the moment but the results are going
for us, but it's a big game at Newport and that should lift us."

Humphreys added former Colwyn Bay striker James Mackenzie
was the only Shawbury player to do himself any justice against a
Coseley side that have collected just two points from 19 league
games this term.

He said: " James has been biding his time on the bench but he's
got his chance and he's made the most of it.

ATROCIOUS

" But apart from his display it was the worst we have played all
season. We were absolutely atrocious and the only good thing
was we got three points. The scoreline makes it look quite
comfortable but it wasn't at all.

" We were not helped by the game being delayed for 45 minutes
after about half an hour when one of their lads suffered a badly
broken ankle.

" That really killed the game and no one could really raise their
game. It was very flat."

Shawbury led 1-0 at the break after Tim Humphreys reacted
quickest to score after the keeper fumbled a Craig Sanders free
kick.

Tom Ward slid in a second goal for the hosts in the 70th minute
after a strong run and cross from Mackenzie.

Coseley clawed a goal back soon afterwards before Shawbury
were handed the cushion of a third goal late on when Mackenzie
ran from the halfway line and beat two defenders before coolly
lobbing the keeper.