West Midlands (Regional) League

Premier Division

Wem Town 4

Shawbury United 2

WEM Town started 2019 as they mean to go on with a win over Shawbury United to move them further away from the foot of the table.

A Mattie Cohen double along with goals from Jim Astley and Dylan Hillier helped the hosts to a 4-2 victory which moves them eight points ahead of bottom-placed Pegasus Juniors.

The local rivals faced off hoping to start the year well, but it was Town who turned up in better form, scoring four times without reply.

Wem were four up deep into the second half after putting on an almost perfect performance, before they conceded twice in the final 10 minutes of the fixture making the final score 4-2.

The win takes Wem just six points behind Shawbury, with a game in hand.

They next face bottom of the table side Pegasus Juniors away on Saturday, where a win would see them move 11 points ahead of bottom place with a game in hand.

Manager Josh Gough will now be hoping his side can push on with a good string of results, in what could prove to be a very important month as they look to secure their position in the division for next season.

Their upcoming opponents remain bottom of the table having lost in a seven-goal thriller against 19th-placed side Pershore Town 88 last weekend.

Pegasus Juniors fell behind early on in the game, but drew level quickly through George Andrews.

The sides went in at the break level, before returning for the second half and sharing five goals between them.

It was Pershore who prevailed, scoring three times in the second half to take a 4-3 win and moving five points clear of Pegasus at the bottom of the table.

Dudley Sports fell a place below Wem after they were beaten at home by Cradley Town.

Cradley ran away with the win with a comfortable 4-1 scoreline to put them into the top half of the table.

Shifnal Town who sit four points ahead of Wem were without a game this weekend, and will return to action when they face Smethwick Rangers away on Saturday, January 12.

Smethwick Rangers were also without a game last weekend as their fixture against Bewdley Town was abandoned.

At the top of the table, league leaders Tividale were held to a 1-1 draw with Dudley Town.

Tividale remain in a comfortable position at the top of the table, with a 14 point gap between themselves and second placed side Wolverhampton Casuals.

Wolverhampton Casuals faced Wednesfield away this weekend, and they too were only able to manage a 1-1 draw. Third and fourth-placed sides Haughmond and Black Country Rangers faced off in a clash between two of the league’s highest scoring sides.

However, there were not many goals on show, and instead the two teams displayed excellent defensive work.

It was Rangers who won 1-0 to move within two points of Haughmond.

Elsewhere, Malvern Town travelled to face Wellington and took home three points after claiming a 2-1 win.

And in the game between AFC Bridgnorth and Hereford Lads Club, the Hereford side took the three points, winning 2-1.