SHIFNAL TOWN 0 STONE OLD ALLEYNIANS 2
Midland Football League, Premier Division
Saturday 11 February 2023
After a first half in which the hosts were the better side, they capitulated after the break to go down to their second defeat of the week. Town have scored just one goal at The Acoustafoam Stadium this calendar year, which about sums up their dip in results. The visitors could have opened the scoring in the 2nd minute from a free-kick awarded on the edge of the penalty area, Sam Bradbury’s kick beating Adam Whitehouse, but striking the underside of the crossbar before being cleared. Town gradually asserted their authority on the game, and put together some good moves. They were unlucky after 24 minutes, when Luke Walsh and Tom Hill played a one-two, Walsh’s angled shot coming back off the inside of the far post. Joe Thompson came close with a 20-yard free-kick on 28 minutes, which took a deflection off a defender for a corner. 3 minutes later, a cross from Walsh was back-headed by Hill, but too close to Raj Gill. 2 minutes further on, a corner from Steve Leslie was met at the far post by Asa Charlton on the volley, the ball flying inches wide of the far post. The half-time whistle came at the wrong time for the hosts, disrupting their momentum.
Oliver Boote and Bradbury came close early in the second half for Stone as Town became lethargic. Shifnal substitute Keanu Cooper had a chance in the 71st minute from Josh Green’s cross, but his header lacked power. 2 minutes later the visitors took the lead when Jack Tomlinson rode a couple of tackles before threading the ball through for SAM WILSON to slot home from 15 yards. The second goal was similar after 81 minutes when a long throw was cleared to Tomlinson on the edge of the penalty area, and his pass was netted by WILSON from close range. Apart from a looping header from Max Chimenes which dropped on to the top of the crossbar, the home side struggled to have any impact on the game. Indeed, Wilson could have grabbed his hat-trick 2 minutes into stoppage time as Shifnal were caught on the break, but he shot tamely at Whitehouse.
SHIFNAL: Adam Whitehouse, Josh Green (Max Chimenes 78mins), Jack Kelly, Sam Griffiths, Asa Charlton, Joe Thompson, Luke Walsh, Steve Leslie (Keanu Cooper 68mins), Tom Hill (Mikey Nelson 60mins), Jeremy Abbey, Tyrone Ofori.
Subs not used: Ashley Brown; Emem Jones.
STONE: Raj Gill, Ryan Goodwin, Josh Sedgley, Sam Bradbury, Luke Askey, William Bailey, Joe Baxter, Sam Wilson, Oliver Boote (Jack Bowater 56mins), Jack Tomlinson, Oliver Davies.
Subs not used: Sam Bowater; James Pritchard; Logan Stinton; Matthew Thomas.
Caution: Goodwin (83mins)..
Attendance: 87.
Referee: Tom Nicklin.
Assistant referees: Alex Richards.
Phil Magness.
Shifnal Star Man: Luke Walsh.
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