Shortwood 1 STM Sports 1

SHORTWOOD continued to impress with their second draw of the week,writes Jim Cunneen.

STM sports won the Welsh League Division 2 last season and provided a stern test for Jason Scrivens' and Mat Blythe's side.

Twice in the opening five minutes Wood had chances with Lewis Bainbridge firing wide and Lee Bowles forcing keeper Dimonekene into a fine parried save.

It was far from one way traffic, however, and the tricky Conteh, raced through but his chip over Steve Sparrow landed on the roof of the net.

Good work from Bainbridge and Josh Kerr set up Liam Orchard but his goal bound shot was blocked on the line while STM had a goal ruled out for a marginal, but correct, offside.

Jacob Nowell headed inches over and then Bowles slammed a shot against the post, with Bainbridge hitting the rebound wide, before STM took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Worsley ran on to a through ball and although Sparrow made a fine block Worsley recovered to shoot home.

The game continued to swing from end-to-end in the second-half and for Wood Orchard had a shot deflected wide and Jamie Walker fired wide from 25 yards. Paul Holmes was unlucky to see his head drift over before Wood finally got the equalizer they deserved with 5 minutes to go. A combination of Orchard and Jack Gardner robbed a defender and with Holmes excellently creating space with a dummy run Bowles had time and space t fire an unstoppable shot into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Wood had chances to win it but at the end of the day a defeat would have been harsh on the Welsh side.

Shortwood: Steve Sparrow, Dan Parry, Tom Hoskins, Josh Kerr, Jacob Nowell, Troy Budd, Tom Black, Jamie Walker, Lewis Bainbridge, Lee Bowles, Liam Orchard, Jack Gardner, Paul Holmes, Mat Blythe, Fin Blythe

On Wednesday evening, Wood played out another 1-1 draw with Chalford. James Keylock gave a Chalford a deserved half-time lead but Wood were much better in the second-half and deserved Liam Orchard’s goal after 72 minutes.