Shawbury United have signalled their intentions to last the pace in the West Midlands League premier division by swooping for Shifnal’s Dominic Heath.

The highly-rated winger made his bow for the north Shropshire club in Saturday’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Ludlow.

And manager Delwyn Humphreys has admitted he is delighted to secure the services of a player who began this season plying his trade for Hednesford in the UniBond League premier division.

“It’s a big signing for us and Dominic was excellent on Saturday,” said Humphreys.

“He hasn’t played for six weeks so who knows what he will be like when he has got a few games and a bit of sharpness under his belt.

“He could easily play two or three leagues higher but he has told me he just wants to get back to playing and enjoying his football and hopefully he can do that here.”

Heath joins a side still harbouring ambitions of challenging for the title after remaining within 10 points of leaders Bridgnorth and moving into fifth position.

Spectacular

They took the lead on Saturday through a free-kick from Martin Giles which was shrouded in some controversy after an offside flag was raised but the referee ruled the offending player wasn’t interfering.

It was the second debatable derby goal Ludlow have conceded in a week after both teams had admitted there had been a foul in the build-up to the opener in the 2-0 defeat against Ellesmere.

And the south Shropshire side’s mood would have darkened further when, after enjoying their best spell of the game in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, they conceded a spectacular own goal.

And the three points were wrapped up for Shawbury when Dave Walbyoff rounded off the scoring with five minutes remaining.

Shawbury will be favourites to maintain their excellent recent run when they travel to Shifnal Town Reserves for the quarter-final of the Shropshire Challenge Cup tomorrow night.

Ludlow, meanwhile, slipped to 10th position after the defeat.