SHIFNAL TOWN 3 ROMULUS 3
Midland Football League, Premier Division
Monday 29 August 2022
Shifnal maintained their record of scoring three goals in every league game so far this season – but still only managed one point! The difference here is that Town played more than half the game with ten men. The hosts made the better start to the game and came close to taking the lead in the 5th minute. Tyrone Ofori did well on the right before crossing low into the penalty area, the ball evading Kane Lewis by inches. 3 minutes later, the visitors could have scored when a long throw came off the head of a defender to Owen Watkins, but he shot straight at Sheridan Martinez from 10 yards. Ofori was unlucky after 12 minutes when he was unable to get quite enough on his header from Lewis’ cross from the left. 2 minutes later, Town were ahead following a one-two between Luke Walsh and Ofori. WALSH skipped past two defenders before slotting in at the near post from 10 yards. Shifnal’s lead was short-lived, the visitors equalising on 19 minutes, when a free-kick from the left was deflected past Martinez by LUKE HENNESSY. A minute later, the visitors were ahead. Joe Thompson dwelt too long on the ball and was dispossessed. The ball was passed to LEWIS McPIKE, who slotted under the keeper from 15 yards. The dangerous Watkins tested Martinez with a fierce effort from 25 yards, which the keeper tipped over the crossbar, as the visitors threatened to run riot. They came close to extending their lead in the 39th minute, Ryan Andrews’ header from a long throw passing narrowly wide of the near post. As the game moved into first half stoppage time, Walsh went in strongly for a tackle, resulting in all 22 players crowding in to the scene. Once things had calmed down, the referee showed Walsh a straight red card. VAR might have seen the incident differently.
Town made three substitutions for the start of the second period, and the impact was immediate, as they took the game to the visitors. Josh Benton turned Ofori’s close-range effort for a corner in the 48th minute, then 2 minutes later, Joe Berks played the ball inside for Ofori, whose shot on the turn grazed the side-netting. Watkins brought a good save from Martinez on 55 minutes, with an angled effort which the keeper palmed away. It looked all over for Shifnal when the visitors were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the D after 66 minutes, and WATKINS found the bottom corner of the net. Shortly afterwards, a defensive error let in substitute Dylan Hadley, but he fired straight at Martinez from close range. Town were handed a lifeline in the 73rd minute when a header from Max Chimenes was handled by a defender in the penalty area, and OFORI made no mistake form the spot. It was all Shifnal now, and 3 minutes later, Emem Jones headed against the foot of the post from Josh Green’s corner. The hosts deservedly equalised on 80 minutes, when a free-kick was played in to OFORI, who turned inside and drove low into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards. Try as they might, Town were unable to grab the winner which their second half performance merited.
SHIFNAL: Sheridan Martinez, Jack Fishman (Josh Green H-T), Jack Kelly, Ashley Brown, Sam Griffiths, Emem Jones, Luke Walsh, Joe Thompson (Keanu Cooper H-T), Tyrone Ofori, Joe Berks (Mike Nelson 67mins), Kane Lewis (Max Chimenes H-T).
Sub not used: Sean Jones.
Caution: Brown (86mins).
Sending off: Walsh (45mins).
ROMULUS: Josh Benton, Luke Hennessy, Ronnee Hendricks (Alex O’Keefe 35mins). Ryan Andrews, Callum Rudd, Cameron Lee, Lewis McPike (Jack Whealan 62mins), Zac Harbon (Louie O’Connor 82mins), Trea Bertie (Dylan Hadley 62mins), Owen Watkins, Umar Zamman (John Dodd 82mins).
Cautions: Rudd (45mins); Lee (62mins); Hadley 83mins).
Attendance: 152.
Referee: Nick Gray.
Assistant referees: John Mayhew.
Chris Sale.
Shifnal Star Man: Tyrone Ofori.
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