Match Report SHIFNAL TOWN VS LYE TOWN 28/01/2023

SHIFNAL TOWN 0 LYE TOWN 1

Midland Football League, Premier Division

Saturday 28 January 2023

This was Shifnal’s first game for almost four weeks, and it showed with a lacklustre performance against a Lye side that has been steadily moving up the league table in recent weeks. Most of the early play took place in the middle of the park, the first chance falling to the visitors after 19 minutes. Nathan Scott cleverly set up a shooting opportunity, but a last-ditch tackle by Kane Lewis deflected his shot for a corner. Home keeper Adam Whitehouse made a fine save from Adam Meacham’s header from the corner. Shifnal’s best chance of the game fell to Luke Walsh in the 22nd minute as the hosts broke quickly with Jeremy Abbey and Keanu Cooper doing well, but Walsh’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area was comfortably saved by Brad Catlow. 2 minutes later, a Lye corner was half-cleared, the ball falling to Josh Hesson, whose 25-yard volley was superbly turned over the crossbar by Whitehouse. The visitors should have opened the scoring on 32 minutes, when a free-kick was headed across goal by Meacham for Hesson, who headed over from close range. The only goal of the game came a minute before the break from a goalmouth scramble, a referee’s assistant indicating that the ball had crossed the line, SCOTT having the final touch.

Lye managed the game magnificently after the interval, being content to keep their hosts at bay without really trying to extend their lead. As far as Shifnal are concerned, it is to be hoped that their rustiness will have disappeared before Tuesday’s next game at home to Uttoxeter.

SHIFNAL: Adam Whitehouse, Josh Green, Kane Lewis (Jack Kelly 51mins), Sam Griffiths, Asa Charlton (Emem Jones 78mins), Joe Thompson (Ashley Brown 73mins), Mikey Nelson, Keanu Cooper, Tom Hill (Max Chimenes 66mins), Jeremy Abbey (Tyrone Ofori 66mins), Luke Walsh.

Cautions: Green(71mins); Charlton 74mins); Walsh (90mins).

LYE: Brad Catlow, Jamie Ashmore, Sam Tye, Lewis Clarke (Chad Carter 76mins), Adam Meacham, Sam Hall, Nathan Scott, Joe Palmer, Josh Hesson, Ben Billingham, Morgan Owen.

Subs not used: Zach Telltn; Farid Mikidam; Bailey Storey; Jason Chilton.

Caution: Owen (84mins).

Attendance: 122.

Referee: Darren Laska.

Assistant referees: Paul Hill.

Mathew Oliver.

Shifnal Star Man: Sam Griffiths.