Hellenic League Division One West

Shortwood United Reserves 0 Tytherington Rocks 1

TYTHERINGTON Rocks completed the double over Shortwood United Reserves, one of their nearest rivals for the championship, in a very competitive game with the narrowest of victories.

This win moved Rocks 13 points clear of Shortwood Reserves and they have four league games left to achieve their goal of winning the championship for the second time in three seasons, with two of them against Lydney Town.

In good conditions Rocks took the game to Shortwood and had most of the play in the first half.

With only ten minutes gone Justin Bishop passed to Tom Andrews, who shot wide of the post when in a good position to score on the right edge of the box.

The goal that Rocks had been threatening came after 20 minutes when a short corner on the right by Stuart Nelson was met by Andy Criddle, who timed his run perfectly to the edge box to sweep the ball into the net, giving keeper Ashton Herbert no chance.

On 40 minutes Bishop, who had been causing the Shortwood defenders problems with his movement and ball control, beat the keeper to a through ball and after going around him should have scored when facing an open goal. However, for once he failed to find the net, striking the ball wide.

With half-time approaching Kevin Freeman brought off a fine save low to his right to keep Rocks in front at the interval, this effort being the only shot that Shortwood had on target in the half.

The second half changed with the home side doing more of the attacking and causing Rocks defenders some anxious moments, however as in the first half Freeman did not have to make any real saves.

Following good work on the left by Jack Smyth, Andrews put in a tremendous drive, which was brilliantly saved by the home keeper, tipping the ball over .

Play continued to ebb back and forth with neither team creating clear cut chances, and whilst there was only one goal in the game it was highly entertaining and closely fought.

Rocks have no fixture this Saturday.

Tytherington Reserves lost at home to Avonmouth 2-0 in Premier Division One of the Bristol Suburban League.

They are away to Riding High on Saturday, 2.30pm.