SHIFNAL TOWN 3 ATHERSTONE TOWN 0
Midland Football League, Premier Division
Tuesday 16 August 2022
An excellent performance by Shifnal against a big, rugged Atherstone side that will win more games than they lose this season. An interesting contrast in styles, as the hosts looked the better side when they played the ball on the ground, whereas The Adders relied on the route one approach. Luke Walsh created the first chance for the hosts after 2 minutes with a fine run down the right, but his low cross just evaded the inrushing Tom Hill. The opening goal came in the 11th minute as the ball was played down the right for HILL, who outstripped a defender before slotting into the far bottom corner of the net. It was 2-0 on 18 minutes, when Ashley Brown picked out MIKE NELSON on the edge of the penalty area. He turned his defender and fired home, despite an heroic attempt by a defender to clear off the line. The visitors went close in the 23rd minute, Callum Carsley’s 25-yard free-kick passing narrowly wide. A minute later, a comedy of errors in the home defence looked as if they must concede, but Josh Green managed to clear the bouncing ball. A lovely bout of interpassing on the half hour saw Carl O’Neill turn Keanu Cooper’s 15-yard strike round the upright. Cooper had another good chance in the 35th minute, but his header from Jack Kelly’s cross was inches wide.
A moment of controversy after 51 minutes saw Atherstone’s Tom Smith’s 25-yard drive come down off the crossbar, and despite vehement appeals that the ball had crossed the line, the referee waved play on. Insult was added to the visitors’ injury in the 66th minute, when the home side increased their lead. A misplaced pass fell to JOE THOMPSON, who beat a defender before thumping the ball past O’Neill from 20 yards. Another defensive lapse let in substitute Max Chimenes 3 minutes into stoppage time, but O’Neill saved well from his fierce angled shot.
SHIFNAL: Sheridan Martinez, Josh Green (Jack Fishman 74mins), Jack Kelly, Ashley Brown, Sam Griffiths, Emem Jones, Luke Walsh (Kane Lewis 59mins), Joe Thompson, Tom Hill (Max Chimenes 74mins), Keanu Cooper (Tyrone Ofori 57mins), Mike Nelson (Joe Berks 59mins).
Cautions: Hill (56mins); Berks (90mins).
ATHERSTONE: Carl O’Neill, Perry Cotton, Callum Carsley, Euan Williams, Darren Eggleton, Nathan Astill, Tom Smith, Alex Naughton (Josh Beeston H-T), Mitchell Piggon (Kyle Perry 48mins), Ryan Quinn (Jack Edwards 48mins).
Sub not used: Toby Bartram.
Attendance: 141.
Referee: Tom Johnson.
Assistant referees: Michael Myatt.
Phil Felton.
Shifnal Star Man: Emem Jones.
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