Shortwood stretch unbeaten sequence (From Stroud News and Journal)

Shortwood stretch unbeaten sequence

Shortwood United 0, Brackley Town 0 SHORTWOOD United extended their unbeaten run to eight games by holding fifth-placed Brackley to a goalless draw at Meadowbank on Saturday in a spirited display that verified their recent improvement.

In a contest inevitably governed by the difficult conditions, a heavy pitch making accurate control a hazardous enterprise, Shortwood more than held their own against an efficient Brackley side, who themselves had not lost for some time.

But with two dour defences in no mood to yield an inch chances were at a premium, although to the credit of both sides, the pace of the game and the endeavour was unrelenting, while the result could not have been fairer.

United's defensive trio of Ashley Thomas, Matt Williford and Steve Walker were in commanding form and they worked hard in midfield where Matt and Mike Green, Francis King and Matt Blythe prompted tirelessly. But against a resolute Brackley rearguard, strikers Craig Cole Matt Haddock and John Embling rarely found space to exploit the few openings that came their way. United might have had a penalty in the second minute when a defender appeared to control a long ball with his hand. But although the linesman flagged, he failed to indicate that the offence had occurred inside the box and the referee settled for a free-kick just outside which Mike Green curled weakly straight at keeper Richard Darvill.

A goal then might have changed the entire tempo of the contest, but instead it developed into a nip and tuck midfield scramble, Brackley having the better of the play in the opening quarter without really threatening to break the deadlock.

The experienced Terry Muckleberg drove in a 30-yard free-kick which took two deflections and ricocheted over the bar, while at the other end Michael Green capped a positive run with a 25-yard shot that Darvell saved competently , but otherwise neither keeper was unduly extended.

United came more into the game as the half wore on, Cole wasting their best chance by heading wide from Matt Green's long ball, while Muckleberg did well to turn a Blythe cross over his own bar at full stretch.

Mike Green might have done better than cross weakly straight to Darvill after a clever run and pass by Embling. but with the surface cutting up badly, play became increasingly disjointed either side of the interval with the stalemate looking increasingly likely to remain unbroken.

Brackley still had the edge after the break, Andy Prescott seeing his shot deflected wide. But the introduction of Luke Hemming and Chris Phillips for Embling and Matt Green instilled more urgency into United's attacking play and Phillips, in particular was at the hub of most of United's attacks in the final quarter.

His surging run and pass set Haddock up with a chance but his low shot snaked just past the post. Brackley quickly responded and home keeper Adam Thomas pulled off the best save of the game to tip away a rasping drive from Prescott.

Phillips was brought down on the edge of the box and from Mike Green's free-kick he shot into the side-netting, but by then it needed something out of the ordinary to break the stalemate and that was not forthcoming.

Shortwood United: Ad Thomas, Ma Green (73, Phillips), Embling (68, Hemming), Ash Thomas, Walker, Williford, Blythe, Mi Green, Cole, Haddock, King. Subs (not used): Evans.

Brackley Town: Darvill, Eldridge, Canaway, Hammond, King, Byfield, Muckelberg (80, Anderson), Bedford, Prescott, Neal, Dawson. Subs (not used): Williams, Fowler. Referee: M Rushden.

* A last-minute headed goal by Steve Walker preserved Shortwood's unbeaten run in a 1-1 home draw with Fairford Town last Wednesday. * Shortwood Reserves lost 2-0 at Longlevens in a Northern Senior League Division 1 clash.