Rangers hit back in derby thriller

Shifnal, one of the favourites for the premier division title, appeared to cruising as they led 3-0 at half-time in front of a crowd of 157.

But the north Shropshire side produced a tenacious second half showing and scrambled the unlikeliest of points with a Wayne Withers equaliser in injury time levelling the scores at 4-4.

"It was an amazing night," said Ellesmere manager Geoff Graham. "It was men against boys in the first half and you were starting to think it could be double figures.

"I didn't have a go at the players at half-time because it was just the gulf in the stature of the club which was the difference in the first half.

"I told them there were lessons we had to learn - but I didn't expect them to learn that quickly!" First half strikes from Steve Edwards, Carl Tranter and Matthew Hall put Shifnal in total command at the interval.

Chris Henry pulled one back within five minutes of the re-start and the seemingly unthinkable became possible when the forward completed his brace.

Any thoughts of an Ellesmere comeback appeared to be put on hold when Tranter made it 4-2 - but Withers struck twice in the final five minutes to complete an astonishing turn of events at Phoenix Park.

"We were cruising at half-time but I warned the players the game wasn't over," insisted Shifnal assistant Les Bristow.

"Credit to Ellesmere because they play one way and stuck to their guns.

"I don't think there was any complacency, just a lack of concentration at the back because we defended very poorly.

"Some of our attacking football was the best I have seen at Shifnal in the last year.

"But football is about defending as well and we didn't do that properly."