The dogfight to preserve south Shropshire’s strong presence in the County League’s premier division is hotting up – with three local clubs battling to avoid relegation.
Church Stretton, Clee Hill and Ludlow Town Reserves are among the five clubs separated by just five points at the foot of the table.
Together with bottom team Hopesgate and villagers Tibberton, they have only a handful of their scheduled 28 league games in which to survive the cut.
CLEE HILL, having already played 24 games, are top of the south Shropshire trio with 21 points.
They took a rest on Saturday when their match with Wem Town was postponed but are due to resume with a home match against Shifnal Town Reserves tomorrow (3pm) and hope to have a fully fit squad.
“We’ve only four left now so they are all going to be important – but as we’re playing at home this is really a must-win one,” said the club’s Brendan Corridan.
CHURCH STRETTON also made the 24-game mark on Saturday – but their 3-2 defeat at Telford Town left them fourth from bottom on 20 points and only increased their concerns.
“It was a major disappointment coming after an encouraging improvement over the previous six or seven games,” said joint manager Mick Wells.
“It was a bad day all round for us. After playing well and gradually improving in our previous half dozen games, we let ourselves down rather badly.
“Time is now running out for us. I’d say we need at least another win and probably more to stay up.”
LUDLOW RESERVES, second from bottom with 17 points from 23 games, look the most likely relegation candidates among the south Shropshire clubs – but club president Mark Evans, who helps manage the side, reckons they’ve two hidden aces.
“Two of our remaining five fixtures are against the only team below us, Hopesgate,” he says.
“If we can win both of them, I’m pretty sure we will be able to stay up.”
