United Make It Back To Back Victories For First Time This Season

United travelled to Coventry Copeswood in search of a second consecutive victory in the league this season as a recent turn in form has seen the black and whites climb the form table. United had seen a player departure in the last week of James Chetter, Dion Calder and Jordan Ambris but welcomed Joe Richards back from Wolverhampton Casuals.

With the wind swirling the playing conditions were going to be difficult for both sides and the opening 20 minutes gave evidence to what would be a loose and scrappy game as neither side took control of the early exchanges. The home side had the best of the early chances when United failed to clear a ball into the box effectively, it bounced around and a Copeswood player lifted the ball onto the bar from 6 yards. Shawbury throwing bodies infront to ensure the rebound was blocked and cleared off the line.

United's first opportunity of note gave the away side the lead as Seth Ellis was allowed to flick the ball into the path of Cian Fenlon who found himself one v one with the Copeswood stopper and he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper to find the back of the net. Fenlon's second goal in two games breaking the deadlock after 27 minutes.

One soon became two as United switched the ball from left to right to find Liam Taylor who jinked past his man to fire the ball hard and low accross the six yard box before taking a deflection of a Copeswood defender and into the net on 32 minutes. The saying London buses comes to mind as United then found themselves with a third in 10 minutes as Ellis' searching ball found Elliot Lee through in on goal and he made no mistake in finding the bottom corner to send the side into a 3-0 lead!

The home side were given hope of a comeback with 5 minutes remaining in the first half when an inswinging corner bounced around in the box and with United failing to clear their lines the ball was poked home by a Copeswood forward. With returning manager, Declan Allen, no doubt planning his team talk for a 3-1 lead at the break Copeswood saw themselves well and truely back in the tie as Liam Walton was adjudged to have handled the ball 25 yards out. A superb free-kick followed as the Copeswood player's curling effort found John Acton's top corner.

Half-time: Coventry Copeswood 2-3 Shawbury United

The second half was very much a scrappy afair with the homeside pilling on the pressure in the opening 20 minutes of the half but substitute Rifat Ata made an immediate impact off the bench to secure the game, just as he did in the return fixture at Ludlow. Some neat football found Josh Garrington in space down the left and his first time ball accross to Ata was flicked into the back of the net with the outside of his boot.

Full-time: Coventry Copeswood 2-4 Shawbury United