Hedderman's joy as Shipston's strikers shine again

SHIPSTON Excelsior manager Steve Hedderman hailed his attacking stars as they produced a scintillating second-half display to see off Moors Academy at London Road last Saturday.

After losing 8-3 to Moors in September, Shipston were desperate to secure revenge on Saturday and they did so in spectacular style.

With the score poised at 2-2 at half-time, goals from Lewis Fathers, Jake Harris and Jason Beasley led Hedderman’s men to a deserved victory that moves them up to third in Midland League Division Three.

“We are looking very strong going forward,” said the Shipston boss.

“My forwards were just phenomenal with the way they terrorised the Moors boys. It was a joy to watch.”

Shipston started off slowly and Moors deservedly went 1-0 up on 15 minutes.

Hedderman’s side were looking dangerous on set pieces against a smaller Moors team and their equaliser arrived when Ryan Mumford won a header and Joe Godson then bundled it home.

Just 60 seconds later and Moors were back in front, before Shipston got a bit of luck. Martin Tomes, playing his first game for Shipston this year, was taken down in the area and Fathers slotted home the resulting penalty.

Fathers put Shipston 3-2 ahead on the hour when scoring directly from a corner and within a few minutes the game was as good as over. Good work from Tomes and Fathers set up Harris, who slotted home the fourth.

Shipston kept pressing and they were rewarded with a fifth from Beasley, whose effort was deflected into the net.

“It was a thoroughly deserved win,” Hedderman added.

“The work-rate, teamwork and pure effort was exactly the level I expect.

“We seemed to be in awe of them for the first ten minutes, but once we started getting tough they were not up for the fight.”

More Midland League news and reaction in this week's Herald.