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SHAWBURY 2, ETTINGSHALL 0

A FINE defensive performance saw SHAWBURY UNITED boost their hopes of climbing into the top half of the west midlands league
premier division with a 2-0 win over Ettingshall HT at the Butler Sports Ground.

With the back four laying a solid platform , Shawbury slowly ground down their visitors before taking the spoils courtesy of second
half strikes from Jason Treharne and Nicky Guy.

The club's management duo of Alan Smith and Delwyn Humphreys were more than satisfied with what they saw and with a game in
hand will be looking for their men to push into the top half of the table.

The result was particulary important following the previous week's disappointing 3-1 exit at Gedling Town in the FA Vase , a game in
which the visitors felt they merited at least a replay.

And Humphreys was delighted to get back on track , paying particular tribute to the defence that produced an assured display to
snuff out the visitors.

FOUNDATIONS

" The back four defended really well, and stopped them from playing ," he said.

" It was important to keep a clean sheet which laid the foundations for the win as we know we've got players who can score.

Although Shawbury's back line hardly gave their visitors a look-in during the first half , Humphreys admitted the hosts needed to step
up a gear in the second half period if they were to get the points.

" At half time we told the players they were at home and we needed to do more in the second half if we were going to win," he
added.

And with the visitors struggling to make inroads, it was Shawbury who grabbed the goals in the second period.

Treharne made the breakthrough with a neat finish on the half hour mark after the ball had been pulled back from the right.

And Guy sealed the points when he started and finished the move after Tim Humphreys had pulled the ball back from the right.

Victory puts Shawbury in good heart as they bid for revenge in Saturday's West Midlands League premier division trip to Brierley Hill
following a 2-0 home defeat earlier in the season.

The club , meanwhile , are still in talks with Haughmond's highly-rated attacking fullback Russell Hollick over a possible switch to the
Butler Sports Ground.

Shawbury hope to have finally got their home form up and running following their first success of the season in front of their own fans
against Ettingshall on Saturday.

Their first few games of the campaign at their Wem base had ended in frustration with two defeats and a draw - in stark contrast to an
away record of two wins and a draw.

But two cracking second half goals from Jason Treharne and Nick Guy finally proved that there was no place like home as Shawbury
battled to a deserved 2-0 victory.

PEACHES

Joint boss Alan Smith said: "Although our away form has been good , we've struggled at home but we certainly put that right on
saturday.

" The first half was fairly evenly matched but we stepped it up after half time and won it with two absolute peaches.

Treharne rifled through a crowded box with a powerful drive on 65 minutes , before Guy made sure of the result by sprinting 80 yards
to put the finishing touches to a rapid counter attack five minutes from time.

Shawbury United suffered cup heartbreak as they went down 3-1 after extra time to Gedling Town.

United went a goal down after 70 minutes but forced the tie into over-time when Jason Treharne netted in the closing stages.

The Express & Star Premier Division outfit had the chance to win the tie but goals at the end of each period saw their run end.

Joint manager Alan Smith said: " We were big underdogs and it was an excellent effort to push them into extra time.

"We were proud of the lads and hopefully we can carry this form into our league campaign."

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Shawbury lose 3-1 after extra time to Gedling in last weekend's big FA Vase tie, Shawbury handed a first team debut to young left back Chris Skitt , the former
Meole Brace player, and Humphries was delighted with his contribution.

"Chris did ever so well ," he confirmed. "But basically it was a good team performance from all of the lads . I was really pleased with our attitude and we
were unfortunate not to get a replay having taken the game into extra time."

Shawbury were underdogs ahead of their trip to Nottinghamshire to take on higher division Gedling but in the end were the equals of their hosts.

Solid defensiveley during a goalless first half, Shawbury created the best chance, only for Jason Treharne to shoot just wide.

Gedling made the breakthrough in the 70th minute but Shawbury forced the tie into extra time with an equaliser five minutes from time.

Sub Humphries went up with the keeper and the ball eventually dropped for ex-Shifnal Town striker Treharne to score.

Shawbury tired in extra time , no surprise given their earlier non-stop efforts , and two late goals saw the home side through.

Shawbury resume their league campaign with a home game against Ettingshall H T at the Butlers Sports Ground on saturday 2.45pm.

Shawbury United joint boss Alan Smith is hoping there will be no place like home for his team after watching them end their losing streak at the Butler Sports Ground on
saturday.

United held league leaders Malvern to a 1-1 draw on saturday with Nicky Guy grabbing a second half equaliser, and Smith hopes that result will end his team's poor home
start to the season.

EXCELLENT

He said: "We have not looked comfortable at home but that was an excellent result against one of the best teams in the league.

"Malvern were excellent in the first half and we could have been out of the game at half time.

"But it was a different game in the second half. We passed the ball better, created some chances and i felt we deserved our point .

"Hopefully that will give us the confidence to get a home win and we can move on from there,".

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Shawbury warmed up for their third foray into the FA Vase by holding high-flying Mavern to a 1-1 draw last weekend , a result which cost the Worcestershire club top
spot in the West Midland League Premier Division.

Shawbury were poor in the first half and fortunate to trail just 1-0 at the break. But Humphries and co-manager Alan Smith sorted things out at half time and Shawbury
were much better after the restart.

Former Shinal Town midfielder Nicky Guy fired in the equaliser from 20 yards 15 minutes from time, the ball bouncing over the keeper , while young Craig Sanders twice
almost grabbed the winner, rattling the woodwork before being denied by a fine save from the visiting keeper.

"In the end we were very satisfied with the result," added Humphries. "Half time came at just the right time for us as Malvern were well on top and we might have been four
or five down had it not have been for some fine saves from our goalkeeper Steve Jones.

"But we were a different side in the second half, much better , and might have even won in the end."

Shawbury United manager Alan Smith is confident his new look team have finally kick started their season after two successive away wins in four days.

A slow start to the campaign had left shawbury in danger of being left behind by the early pacesetters, but two quick victories have dragged them into a
respectable mid-table position.

The 3-1 win at Bustlholme on wednesday was United's first victory of the season and that was followed up quickly by a comfortable 3-0 victory at Coseley on
saturday thanks to goals from Jason Treharne , Steve Giles , and Tim Humphreys.

Smith believes his side have overcome their early season rustiness , and is now focusing on improving his side's form at their home ground in Wem.

He said : "It is certainly starting to come together. We needed a couple wins to give everyone a boost and to get them both away from home is excellent.

"Our away form is good and we are very pleased with two wins and a draw from our three games so far but our home form is letting us down.

CONFIDENT

"We have lost both our home games and it is important we win at home as soon as we can to get rid of that record.

"The players are working very hard and i am confident it will not be long before we turn the corner at home."

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IT'S onwards and upwards for Shawbury United after back to back away wins lifted them to mid table in the West Midland League Premier Division Table.

The Butler Sports Ground club are now aiming to maintain their improved form when they tackle early leaders Malvern Town at home on saturday (2.45pm).

The following week Shawbury travel to Nottinghamshire club Gedling Town in the second round of the FA Vase so there is much to look forward to, says joint
manager Delwyn Humphries.

"We've had two good away win's , it's starting to click , the team spirit is good, and we want to keep it going now," said Humphries.

"It's still early days and the lads are still learning to play together but these two good away results have hopefully kickstarted our season."

EXCITED

Humphries is particulary excited at the potential of the new look strike force of long serving Steve Giles and summer signing Jason Treharne.

"They're very different types of players but they are starting to know how the other plays and are hitting it off," added Humphries.

Shawbury were impressive 3-0 winners at Coseley last weekend. Treharne and Giles both scored along with right-back Tim Humphreys, who turned in a man of
the match display.

"Tim made two of the goals and scored the other one," said Humphries. "He did really well especially as he was struggling with a hamstring injury and we were
close to bringing him off after 20 minutes."

A few days earlier Shawbury gained their first win under new managerial duo Humphries and Smith with a 3-1 success at Bustleholme thanks to a brace from
Treharne and a goal from Giles.