Studley 2 Shortwood 0
By Jim Cunneen
Shortwood showed resilience despite falling to a defeat at league leaders Studley.
There were positives for Wood who stuck to their task well and fought for every ball. They refused to give an inch and showed terrific commitment to the cause. When Studley did get through they found Rob Sims in good form.
Wood were pinned back for long periods in the first-half in the teeth of strong wind and Sims made a good diving save from Brain before Bunn clipped the top of the bar with a 25-yard shot.
Byrnes showed excellent control and running before releasing Lewis but he was soon blocked off and then Barrett had a shot blocked.
Brain saw a long chip drift wide before Studley scored their first after 32 minutes. A mistake from Joe Tryner saw the irrepressible Barnes shoot low past Sims. Lewis fired high over for Wood but Studley had the best of the rest of the opening period.
Wood were lively in the second half and Payne fired just over and Wood pressed more with the wind behind them.
Byrnes stung keeper Bunn’s hands from 20 yards and twice Lewis headed wide.
The game was still in the balance but Wood had a let-off after 75 minutes when Brain hit a drive against the inside of the post and the ball rebounded straight into Sims’ arms. The reprieve did not last long though as just a minute later Westwood went through and calmly chipped the ball over Sims.
Shortwood: Sims, Harper – Emerson, Barrett, Nowell (Brent 79), Tryner, Byrnes, Payne, Tunnicliff, Lewis, Gibbs, Peyton
