Shrewton Only Winners as Wet Weather Strikes Again
The weather once again took its toll on the scheduled fixtures with just one game surviving this week. If many more games are lost to wet weather before we even reach the usual bad weather winter months, measures may need to be taken to avoid a looming fixture backlog at the end of the season, such as more games being staged in midweek.
Congratulations to Ludgershall Sports on getting their game against Shrewton played. Unfortunately for Ludgershall they were not rewarded with their first points of the season, but they gave one of the top sides, Shrewton United, a tough game in a match played in very difficult conditions.
Shrewton went into the game having won just one of their last three league games and were keen to get all three points against a side that has struggled so far this season to ensure they stayed in touch with the leading sides. Shrewton started strongly and had chances to go ahead in the opening minutes but some resolute defending kept then out. They were not to be denied for long though, as Craig Appleby, finished off a good move involving the Shrewton front three to put the visitors in front with his second goal of the season. The same player then added a second for the visitors before the break scoring at the back post to give Shrewton a 2-0 half time lead.
Shrewton started the second half brightly and quickly extended their lead when full back Jake Watson got behind the Ludgershall defence and fire in a shot across the goal which nestled in the bottom corner of the net giving the Ludgershall keeper no chance. This further setback seemed to spur the home side into action, and they pulled one back through striker Liam Cotter who was put through one-on-one with Shrewton stand-in keeper Carl Fitz-gerald and neatly finished to make it 1-3. Shortly after it got even better for Ludgershall as Cameron Hoyle fired in a free-kick form 20 yards out to get them back within touching distance of their opponents.
Shrewton, realising they were in danger of throwing the three points away, were spurred into action and Craig Appleby went from scorer to provider as he set up Saul Johnson who fired in from just inside the box for his tenth of the season to make it 4-2. There was still time for another goal, Jake Watson rounded off an impressive performance with his second of the game to make the final score 5-2 to Shrewton United. The win lifted Shrewton a place in the table up into third spot a point behind second placed Corsham Town Reserves and five points behind leaders Wroughton but having played three games more. Ludgershall take a break from league action in midweek with a tough looking Wiltshire Senior Cup game when they travel to take on Sydenham’s Wessex League side Bemerton Heath Harlequins before returning to league action next Saturday with the visit of Frome Collegians. The same day Shrewton United will be in Wiltshire Senior Cup action when manager Joe Sheldrake's side look to cause another cup upset against higher league opponents when Corsham Town from the Western League are the visitors to the Recreation Ground.
Shrewton's Saul Johnson who took his total to 10 for the season in the 5-2 away win at Ludgershall Sports
Results, Saturday 9th November 2019
League Results Ludgershall Sports 2 Shrewton United 5
All the other seven scheduled matches were postponed.