An exciting game to open the season – the visitors grabbing a point with a penalty deep into time added on. Shawbury had most of the early play, and it was only a combination of poor finishing and excellent goal-keeping by Jake James that kept Town in the game. Rifat Ata particularly was dangerous for United, and James denied him after 13 minutes, diving to save his low shot from the edge of the penalty area. 2 minutes later, a tackle by Sam Wilde was taken exception to by Reis Mahey, and after the resultant melee, the referee showed red cards to Wilde and Shawbury’s Joe Delacoe. The visitors continued to take the game to Shifnal, and a long ball picked out Ata on 18 minutes, but his first-time shot was well off target. James again came to Town’s rescue in the 22nd minute, turning Liam Taylor’s 20-yard effort over the crossbar following good work by Ata. A swift break after 32 minutes ended with James saving well from Armando Wood. United finally opened the scoring 2 minutes later, when a long throw was met with a looping header by HARRY FARNSWORTH, which gave the keeper no chance. The goal galvanised Town into action, and a minute later, Ben Cullen saw his 25-yard free-kick take a slight deflection before coming back off the upright. 2 minutes before the break, the hosts equalised when BEN OSEI brought a cross down on his chest, rounded the keeper and fired an angled shot into the far corner of the net.

Shifnal were looking a much better side after the break, and they took the lead in the 55th minute. The visitors half-cleared the ball which fell to HARRISON BARRETT, who looked up before driving low into the net from 25 yards. United hit back, and Ata spurned two great chances to equalise from long balls over the top from Jordan Jones. The first on 59 minutes, he completely mis-kicked, then James saved well again after 64 minutes. Town were close to extending their lead in the 74th minute, when Ben Macaulay’s low 20-yard free-kick was scrambled round the post by Tom Delamere. Then came the late penalty, awarded when Josh Medlyn brought down Jack Hickman as he was about to shoot, TAYLOR sending James the wrong way from the spot.

SHIFNAL TOWN:
Jake James, Josh Medlyn, Mike Gwynne (Todd Brindle 71mins), Sam Wilde, Zac Vale, Ben Macaulay, Ryan Hadley, Adrian Jones, Ben Cullen, Harrison Barrett, Ben Osei (Trudelle Gray 84mins).

Subs not used: George Williams; Ryan Bright; Jordan M Jones..

Cautions: Macaulay 15mins; Vale 58mins; Barrett 83mins; Medlyn 90mins.

Sending-off: Wilde 15mins.

SHAWBURY UNITED:

Tom Delamare, Liam Taylor, Jack Hickman, Harry Farnsworth, Jordan Jones, Reis Mahey, Rifat Ata, Josh Garrington (Rhys Orchard 81mins), Archie Griffiths-Pugh (Callum Higginson 71mins), Joe Delacoe, Armando Wood.

Subs nor used: Con Giatsios; Kyle Williams; Stu Lewis.

Sending-off: Delacoe 15mins.

Referee: James Lunn (Pattingham).

Assistant referees: Mike Myatt (St George’s).
Tim Gregory (Aqueduct).

Shifnal Star Man: Jake James.