Shifnal were first to show on three minutes when a partially cleared corner reached the edge of the box before being fired just over.  However, from the goal-kick The Lockmen broke the deadlock.  Harry Radford’s booming goal kick was flicked on by player-boss Mark Habbershaw and Chadd Birch gambled on a mis-control which duly occurred, setting  him on a free run at goal and as keeper Tom Whittaker raced out to meet him, he duly finished by sliding a cool shot through the keeper’s legs on four minutes.  The Lockmen won their first corner on nine minutes but a whistle for a foul stopped any danger.  Chadd Birch then fired in a low effort which was straight at the keeper two minutes later.  There was plenty of endeavor but little created in the way of chances.  Jeff Agyeman, on 17 minutes fired over before Clayton Peddie was forced to head behind from Jordan Jones’ cross on 18 minutes as Shifnal pressed, whilst Willenhall saw a 35 yard free-kick from Jason Wood touched around the post on the half hour.  Another corner resulted, and Habbershaw glanced wide from the only other action in a fractious encounter.

HT SHIFNAL TOWN 0-1 WILLENHALL TOWN

The home side got of to the best possible start when they leveled on 48 minutes.  A ball in from the Shifnal right was allowed to bounce across the box to the far post where it looked like Seth Ellis flashed home a fierce shot.  The Lockmen then hit the post through the hard working Chadd Birch three minutes later, the ball bouncing to safety.  Two minutes later Craig Love took advantage of a misplaced pass and ran clear at goal only for Harry Radford to deny him with a fine block.  Shifnal were having the majority of play without forcing any chances, a superb rearguard denying them time or space on a very heavy pitch whilst creating chances on the counter.  Habbershaw had a couple of efforts, the first was from a Jamal Pinnock cross after good passing interplay on 56 minutes, the second was a free-kick on 63 minutes which flew just wide.  Just prior to that Wood had fired a free-kick from 25 yards just over.  The Lockmen went close on 73 minutes when Chadd Birch flew down the wing and fired over a fine cross for substitute Kyle Thompson to guide a header back across the face of goal.  Four minutes later, however, The Lockmen struck the killer blow.  Chadd Birch won two thundering tackles on the right before finding Jason Wood, he broke through two tackles before feeding Chadd Birch to cross for substitute Matt Dorgan to finish acrobatically on 81 minutes.  Shifnal sub Josh Bradburn then denied Habbershaw a third goal with a fine last-ditch tackle with six minutes left.  For all the home team’s possession and threat, still no chances were forthcoming though they forced a couple of corners in four minutes of stoppage-time which were kept out by spirited rearguard action.