Shadforth travelled to top of the League New Brancepeth, knowing a victory would close the gap too 6 points with 3 games in hand.
The home side started the brighter and has most of the ball with the visitors trying to catch them on the break but unable to find that final ball when it mattered. Brancepeth kept the ball well in the early exchanges but were very poor with it, creating no chances in the first 15 minutes, the task was made a little easier for the visitors when the home side had their centre half red carded for a blatant elbow on Johnson, that would prove to change the game.
Even though they were a man down, they still kept hold of the ball better then the Plough, but a wonder strike from Jones broke deadlock, he was played through by C Ascherl, he beat the last defender before dispatching a 25 yarder with his weaker right foot over the helpless 'keeper.
The Home Side created one clear chance in the first half and maybe with a better finish they wouldve gone in level at half time, and arguably deservedly so, the striker was played in with a ball over the top he rounded Price in goal, but Richardson was covering to clear it off the line, they had another half chance a ball in from the right fell to the striker around the penalty area he tested Price who reacted well to turn it around the post.
Ht New Brancepeth 0 - 1 Shadforth
Second half got underway, the fog was now making it very difficult to see, 2 minutes into the second half the Plough had doubled their advantage and looked good for the 3 points,a break down the left from Coxon, saw his ball into the box evade the defender and Moore, it beat the keeper to the back post where Johnson tapped in for his 1st goal for the club.
Johnson played a hand in the third for the Plough, his ball in found Moore the keeper made a good save, but Maddox was on hand to tap in the rebound. for his 5th League goal this season.
The homeside were awarded a spot kick when Price brought their striker down, the penalty summed up their day when it was blazed over Price's Bar.
Ryan Ascherl broke through the last line of defence and cooly slotted the ball past the on rushing keeper, that brought his league tally level with our leading scorer Moore too 9 goals.
The homeside would snatch a goal back, a corner that wasn't defended very well,the ball got put back across the box and Price was beaten from a close range header.
Shadforth weren't finished there though Christoph Ascherl not to be outdone by his brother went through and tucked away his one on one. There was a late cameo appearance in goal for Moore as Price had to leave the pitch with a shoulder injury.
Summary
We didn't play perticulary well in this game altough we won 5-1 we didnt play the ball around like we usually do, the hosts certainly helped us out by going down to 10 men. We took our chances when we had them and defended well when we were under pressure, apart from the lapse of concentration for their goal, they had a lot of the ball but we restricted them to 2 clear cut chances, and a penalty.
It will be a very interesting game in 2 weeks time when the 2 sides meet at Barnard Avenue.
The Plough closed the gap at the top too 6 points with 3 games in hand, but we must win these games in hand too make sure this result means something.
We are now unbeaten in our last 6 league games winning 5 and drawing 1.
