Shifnal Town have stormed back to the top of the West Midlands League premier division - and insisted all the pressure is on the chasing pack.
Saturday’s 6-1 victory at Bromyard provided further evidence that the Phoenix Park men have overcome their November slump in form and are now on track to maintain their title challenge.
With nearest challengers Gornal having their match at Ludlow postponed and close pursuers Bewdley and Tividale both slumping to defeats against Pelsall and Bridgnorth respectively, Shifnal returned to the summit.
And now manager Mick Tranter is anxious to remain there until the turn of the year.
“It’s great to be top and there’s no place I would prefer to be,” he said. “There’s no pressure on us - it’s all on teams behind who have to win games to overtake us.
“We have had two or three chances over the last few weeks to go top and not taken them.
“Saturday was probably not a day I expected us to go back top and yet it happened.
“We have got two big games against Bewdley and Dudley Sports to come before the end of the year so it will be a big boost if we are still top then.”
The trip to Bromyard started far from ideally with the struggling hosts grabbing a shock lead inside the opening five minutes.
The Herefordshire side spurned further chances to extend their advantage in the early stages but the visitors soon began muscling their way back into the game.
Matt Johnson struck on 27minutes before Carl Tranter and Linden Dovey both added efforts in the run-up to half-time.
And Shifnal’s purple patch continued after half-time as they added another three goals - Tranter completing his hat-trick and Dovey adding his second - to complete the rout.
They may have plenty of ground to make up but Bridgnorth Town are making a fine fist of putting themselves back in contention for a top three finish this season.
And the Crown Meadow could have enjoyed few better results in recent times than Saturday’s resounding 4-0 triumph at highly-fancied Tividale.
All the damage was done in the first half with Nicky Porter and Zack Jackson giving Bridgnorth an early two goal lead before the hosts were reduced to 10 men.
And Bridgnorth took full advantage with Shaun Charles and Gareth Horler striking to all but seal the points by half-time.
“The first half was awesome and it was probably as well as we played since I have been at the club,” said joint manager Steve Hinks.
“There are still one or two areas where we need to strengthen but we are getting close to where we want to be.”
Bridgnorth have signed goalkeeper Craig Ladek from Bewdley, midfielder Matt Jackson from Sutton Coldfield and have swooped for right-back Richard Palmer - brother of AFC Telford United captain Steve - from Old Wulfrunians.
Share this article:
What are these?