Prees beaten by near rivals in north Shropshire derby

Prees United 1

Gobowen Celtic 2

Prees United’s hopes of challenging for the top of the tree in the Shropshire Premier Division have all-but-ended after a home defeat in their derby with Gobowen Celtic.

The Green and Whites kept their own title ambitions alive with the win at the Rec Ground, meaning they are eight points behind current leaders Wellington Amateurs Development with three games in hand.

However, in their way stand last season’s champions Shrewsbury Juniors, who have four games in hand on Wellington and are just three points behind.

Prees remain in mid-table and continued their mirror image record of wins and losses, recording their fifth defeat of the season after notching their fifth win in recent weeks.

The defeat means they are now seven points behind Gobowen, albeit with a game-in-hand over their north Shropshire rivals.

Goals from Ed Rogers and an own goal were enough to give the visitors all three points in a keenly-contested clash as Prees were able to dodge the poor weather.

Prees will be given the chance to bounce straight back on Saturday as they make the difficult trip to Wrockwardine Wood Juniors, who sit in fifth spot.

It will be a 2pm kick-off.

It will will be their last action of the decade before the new year, when they host another north Shropshire derby as St Martins Village make the trip.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, there was only one other clash in the league on Saturday as Wellington returned to the summit with a thrilling win over Stoke Heath.

They made the trip to the facility, albeit with it as their home game, running out as 5-3 winners to overleap the leaders Shrewsbury.

There is a full programme of fixtures this weekend, with Gobowen and Wellington on their travels to Albrighton and Hopesgate United, respectively.

Champions Shrewsbury will host their Juniors counterparts in Telford while fourth-placed Madeley Sports will host Brown Clee, who are third from bottom.

St Martins Village will make the trip to Stoke Heath for their home game – all games kick off at 2pm.