Shortwood 7 Ludlow 1
Shortwood finally ended their winless home start in the league on Saturday — and in emphatic fashion, writes Harry Ash.
It took just over five minutes for Wood to take the lead. A long ball from Cameron Blacker was brilliantly brought down by Alfie Bradshaw, who cut in from the right and reversed his shot into the near corner, leaving Ludlow keeper Zach Venables stranded.
Barely a minute later, the lead was doubled, with Bradshaw again at the heart of the move. Beating his marker down the left this time, he cut the ball back for Dom Kent, who finished calmly from close range.
Shortwood then took something of a backward step, allowing Ludlow to grow into the game. Joe Tryner was called upon to make a couple of trademark recovering challenges, but just before half time the visitors halved the deficit. Harry Jones’ deflected cross fell kindly for Ryan Clarke, who turned sharply and fired into the top corner.
That set up what looked like being a nervy second half for Wood, having seen their early dominance slip away.
What they needed was an early goal after the restart — and courtesy of Elliot King, they got it. George Parker harried Sean Evans as he tried to let the ball run out for a goal kick, poking it back towards the edge of the box. King met it sweetly, and a hefty deflection took it past Venables to restore the two-goal cushion.
This time, Ludlow’s response was snuffed out. Midway through the half, a hopeful ball forward from Tryner caused chaos in the visiting defence, with Venables slipping as he came to collect. Bradshaw was first to react, steering his shot into the unguarded net for his second of the afternoon.
A late flurry — all involving Wood’s substitutes — added gloss to the scoreline. Jack Gardner’s low cross was only half-cleared, and Asamoah Afriyie’s effort took a deflection on its way in for number five. Moments later, Benji Cronin’s cross from the left was met brilliantly by Gardner, whose header was parried by Venables straight to Jai Underwood to tap home.
Cronin then capped off the rout himself, playing a neat one-two with Afriyie before thundering a strike past Venables from range to make it seven.
A spectacular return to league action for Shortwood, who now turn their attention to cup duties — hosting local rivals Brimscombe in the GFA County Cup on Tuesday, before a big FA Vase second-round trip to Downton next Saturday.
Shortwood: Wright, Blacker, King T, King E, Tryner (Underwood), Whelan, Adichareh (Gardner), Kent, Bradshaw (Afriyie), Martin (Mulraney), Parker (Cronin)
Star Player: Olly Whelan
