Shifnal celebrate title win

Shifnal Town were today celebrating a first championship success for 25 years after sending their promotion party off with a bang.

The Phoenix Park were 4-1 victors at Bewdley on Saturday to seal the West Midlands League premier division title - which they last won in 1982 - with four matches remaining.

Carl Tranter bagged a hat-trick - to take his record to the season to 37 goals from 37 games - while Linden Dovey grabbed the other as Shifnal sealed their place in next season's Midland Alliance.

And, after a weekend of celebrations, manager Mick Tranter today paid tribute to his championship winners.

"It's been a fantastic season - we have had a couple of wobbles but on the whole we have been the dominant force," said Tranter. "The lads have coped with the expectations well and the turnout for training all through the season has been fantastic."

Tranter will now ponder whether or not he will remain in the managerial hot-seat - but insists his future remains at Phoenix Park.

"I spoke to Les (Bristow, assistant manager) about it over a meal on Saturday night," Tranter added.

"We will go away over the summer, have a few games of golf and a few bottles of wine and decide what we are going to do.

"But even if I don't continue as manager, I will stay as a director. I'm not leaving Shifnal."

Tranter's men now have their eyes on a quadruple with interest remaining in the JW Hunt Cup, Shropshire Challenge Cup and the League Cup.