Church Stretton stutter in race for title

Stretton slipped into second place in the standings behind Childs Ercall after being held to a 1-1 draw at Madeley Sports.

Rickilee Marston fired the hosts in front but a strike from Richard Groom ensured Stretton headed home with some reward for the efforts.

Childs Ercall now lead the way by a point on the back of a 4-1 beating of Press, although Stretton have played three games less.

Ercall made a flying start to their clash with Alfie Birch firing them in front early on after he had closed the keeper down before slotting home the rebound.

The second goal arrived when Colum Dunphy headed home a Martin Lalley corner.

Prees cut the deficit thanks to a fine 25-yard strike from Christopher Owen.

But Ercall were back in charge when Lalley struck from the penalty spot after Joe Salt had been wrestled to the ground.

Liam Dunphy wrapped up the scoring when he beat the keeper to a set-piece delivery from Lalley and headed home.

Third-placed Oakengates Athletic are favourites to lift the title following a 6-3 success against Clee Hill United. The win leaves Athletic in third place, three points behind Childs Ercall but with five games in hand.

Rock Rovers are going along well in fourth place, four points adrift of the table-toppers, after winning 2-1 at Wrockwardine Wood.

Liam Robinson and Nathan Thomas scored for Rovers.

The other top flight clash saw Gobowen Celtic beat Shifnal United 97 4-2 with Ian Heathcock and Joe Pierpoint both netting twice.

Shrewsbury Juniors face a big top of the table clash with First Division leaders Stoke Heath on Saturday.

Second-placed Juniors are a point behind leaders Stoke, but have two games in hand. And they will make the trip in confident mood after a convincing 8-0 win at AFC Shifnal.

The game was switched to Shifnal as the pitch at the Unison club was unplayable, not that surrendering home advantage made any difference at all to the outcome.

"It was a good performance all round," said player-boss Steve Rogers. "Another three points and three clean sheets on the bounce now, which is pleasing."

Juniors raced into a 5-0 interval lead thanks to a treble blast from James Jehu and strikes from Daryl Rogers and Aaron Williams.

Rogers went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half while Williams was on target again.

Stoke Heath will also go into the clash in good heart after beating Whitchurch Alport Juniors 3-0.

Tyrone Borland scored twice and Aristote Omar once for the table-toppers.

Third-placed Oakengates Rangers lost ground on the top two after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Madeley Sports Reserves.

St Martins Village went goal crazy with a 10-0 hammering of Albrighton.

They struggled in the first half, led by just one goal, before running riot in the second period to net nine more times, with Jamie Hands leading the way with a hat-trick and Joe Roberts scoring a brace.

FC Oswestry Town reserves went down 3-2 away to Newport Town Reserves.

Denso bagged their second league success of the season as goals from Duane Cole, Joe Harris and Damien Tart secured a 3-1 win at Brown Clee.