BRIDGNORTH Town are nervously looking over their shoulders again after picking up just three points from a possible 12 against teams hovering above the relegation zone.
A scrappy 2-1 win over whipping boys Cradley Town are the only points Bridgnorth have picked up in recent weeks –losing 3-1 to second from bottom Shifnal, 2-1 to third from bottom Rocester on Saturday and 1-0 to Malvern Town on Tuesday, who have leap-frogged Town in to 17th place. The Crown Meadow men can thank their lucky stars Shifnal have failed to follow up their derby win with any more league points, although after a midweek defeat to Market Drayton in the semi-finals of the Shropshire Challenge Cup means the Phoenix Park men can now put all their efforts in to staying up.
The gap between the two sides has stayed at seven points but Bridgnorth now have just one game in hand on Shifnal who, with 13 games left to play – including fixtures against Cradley, Highgate and another derby – and will feel their season is far from over. The results and league position are a far cry from the hopes of a top six finish at the start of the season as Bridgnorth have continued to struggle in front of goal, scoring 28 goals in 28 games.
Only Shifnal and Cradley have worse records, which may prove to be Bridgnorth’s saving grace come the end of the season. Tuesday’s game against Malvern, which saw them lose 1-0, was a prime example, as was the 2-1 defeat to Rocester on Saturday, which saw chances squandered in the same vein.
If you include the 3-1 defeat to Shifnal and the 2-1 win over Cradley, the goal a game ratio has continued over the last four games against the weakest sides in the league, which is obviously a problem Town are going to have to address if they are survive this season, without relying on the results of others.
Poor attendances at Crown Meadow this season, which have seen record lows in several games, have not helped the cause either and with two more big home games coming up support would be very welcome.
Town’s extremely busy period continued last night with a game away to Coleshill Town. They then face Friar Lane at home tomorrow and Causeway United on Wednesday, where a vocal home crowd is needed to help roar them to safety.
Shifnal will be hoping to resurrect their league campaign when they travel to Kirby Muxloe tomorrow, before facing two huge home games against Cradley Town at Phoenix Park Saturday, March 13, before welcoming fourth from bottom Highgate United on Tuesday, March 16.