This game gave us a treat of an opening game of the New Year with both teams playing some good football and creating too many chances to mention.  The final score of 8-3 was a superb victory for Shrewsbury Res and will have given them a well deserved boost.

The game began evenly with Shrewsbury firing over the bar, then Ludlow being caught marginally offside when they looked certain to score. Shrewsbury drew first blood courtesy of Amanda Crump, who capitalized on a free kick to score the first of her hat trick. Sarah Timms then went close to making it 2, Ludlow were saved by the width of the post, but broke to take the ball to the other end when only a great interception stopped an equalizer. Holly Mowling then pulled off a goal of real class to increase The Shrews lead when she made an outstanding run down the left and lofted a shot over the keeper and into the net. The play was end to end with Shrews breaking time and again thanks to Mowling, but Ludlow were well capable of going back at them with some good link up play. Mowling swiveled and shot and saw her shot saved, from the goal kick Ludlow took play to the other end, Donna Powell took her shot well to make it 2-1.  Shrewsbury restored their 2 goal advantage just after when a great run saw Sophie Palmer stab home a fine poacher's goal after the keeper had stumbled and spilled the ball.3-1.  Caroline George in the Ludlow goal then stuck out a leg to make a fine outstretched save to keep Crump out, but just before half time The Shrews increased their lead after a spell of pressure with a fine Sarah Timms goal. 4-1

HALF TIME

After the break Crump made a fine run across goal, evading the challenge of 2 defenders, to fire an unstoppable rocket shot into the top corner 5-1. Ludlow then began to force their way back into the game, set up by some impressive defending they broke from the left with Lisa Preece scoring a cracking goal to make it 5-2. Not long after it was 5-3 courtesy of another great Preece goal, almost a repeat of her first. George was a stand in keeper for the day for Ludlow but you would never dream it as she pulled off save after save the best a brave point blank stop. Sarah Timms scored a fantastic shot, a right foot curler from just inside the area to increase The Shrews lead again 6-3, and then Sarah Jenkins, aka Fraggle capped a fine performance with a well deserved goal for no.7. Still Ludlow battled and created some excellent chances; Stevie Cook unleashed a powerful shot but looked on to see it go wide with the keeper well beaten.  It was left to Mowling to grab her hat trick before the end of the game to end a brilliant day for Shrewsbury and make it 8-3. 

This was a fantastic game to watch and credit must go to both teams for some great football and fantastic positive attitude.

After much soul searching the players of the match were: