Shropshire Star

Shifnal ready to show their graft and craft

Shifnal Town are under orders to ‘win the battle first’ when they tackle Darlaston Town tomorrow (3pm).

Published

Town have climbed to the top of the West Midlands League Premier Division on the back of three straight wins, the latest of which came against AFC Bridgnorth on Tuesday.

In contrast, tomorrow’s visitors have yet to pick up a point and, while the match up looks like a home banker on paper, joint boss Danny Carter is preparing for another tough test.

“Darlaston will be up for the game and we have to make sure we are to,” said Carter, whose side made a storming start to last season with 15 straight wins.

“We will have to win the battle first. If we do that then hopefully our quality will show and we will pick up another win.

““At the moment it’s about picking up the three points and maintaining our good start.

“We made a really good start last season and it would be nice to replicate that, but it’s going to be really difficult.

“We are not the surprise package any more and sides have a different mentality when they play against us now.”

Carter and joint-boss Andrew Carrier are having to contend with a few injury issues across the middle of the park with Jake Lloyd, Angelo Franco and Jacob Crainer all sidelined with injuries, while another midfielder, Sean McCarthy, agreed a move to Wednesfield earlier in the week.

On the plus side, Louis McKenzie impressed in his first game of the season on Tuesday, but Town’s managerial duo are looking to strengthen.

“We are probably a bit light in midfield at the moment with the injuries,” added Carter. “We are speaking to a player about joining us.

“We don’t like having too big a squad, but there are times when you have to react.”

AFC Bridgnorth are on the road again tomorrow with a tough-looking trip to face a Wednesfield side, who have picked up two wins from two outings.

Wem Town host Wolves Casuals searching for their first point of the season following a 4-1 defeat at Wednesfield and a 4-0 reverse at home to Dudley Town in midweek.

Shawbury United will be keen to bounce back from Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat at Bilston Town when they entertain Dudley Sports.

Haughmond head to high-flying Gresley Rovers in search of some much-needed Midland Football League points.

Boss Dan Williams felt his team’s best away performance last season came at Gresley when they won 1-0 in Derbyshire.

But Williams acknowledges that Gresley are now a much-improved side.

Tuesday night’s 6-1 win over Selston – currently the only team below Haughmond in the table – lifted Gresley up to third in the Premier Division table.

“A tough game, Gresley,” said Williams. “I think it was probably our best performance on the road last season. We just battled well, worked hard and got a clean sheet.

“They’re a much better side this year and they’ve got a lad up top who scored probably 30 goals for Long Eaton last year.

“We’re getting on the right track. Just hopefully results can pick up, but it’s tough every week.”

Williams expects to be without the influential Jack Leask after he suffered a foot injury during last weekend’s 4-1 defeat against Romulus at the Shrewsbury Sports Village.

“The turning point of the game was probably when Leasky got injured,” added Williams.

“We threw away points on Saturday to be honest. It was never a 4-1 game.

“We were the better side all round I thought for large parts of the game.”