GORNAL Athletic received a welcome morale boost ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Shifnal thanks to a hard-fought league victory against rivals AFC Wulfrunians.

It took a double by Kristian Green – who had initially travelled to Castlecroft thinking the game was an away fixture – as part of a seven-minute three-goal salvo to secure the points.

A fiercely contested first half was edged in terms of chances created by the home side.

On ten minutes a penalty-area scramble ended with the ball finding the feet of Green who blazed over from six yards.

Minutes later, Pete Wood surged forward from the left-back position and unleashed a stinging shot which was well saved by Marc Evans.

Evans was back in action shortly afterwards when called to deal with a Dave Meese shot from the edge of the area.

Wulfrunians pressed harder as the half advanced and James Pemberton had to be alert to smother a header from Nathan Rose-Laing on 38 minutes.

Three minutes later, the visitors took the lead when Richard Anslow timed his run to perfection, raced clear of the defence and expertly lobbed Pemberton.

Just after half-time Anslow had a golden opportunity to double the lead but shot wide and two minutes later Pemberton superbly denied first Anslow and then Richard Palmer.

On 53 minutes a soft penalty was awarded to Gornal for a trip on Calum Martin, only for Evans to thwart Meese from 12 yards.

What looked like being a frustrating afternoon for the home side took a turn for the better on 67 when Gornal manager Ian Rowe added Matt Martin and Cameron Morgan to the mix.

Four minutes later Calum Martin crossed for Green to slot home and equalise before Wood and Matt Martin combined to provide Green with the chance to clinically head home and put Gornal ahead.

On 83 minutes, Cameron Morgan wrapped up the points for Gornal when he expertly controlled a Matt Martin cross, wrong-footed the Wulfs defense and smashed home.

In the closing stages Pemberton once again came to the rescue of his teammates when he produced an excellent double save from Anslow.

Gornal now entertain fellow West Midlands (Regional) Premier League side Shifnal Town at Garden Walk on Saturday in a FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie.

Gornal: James Pemberton; Richard Young; Pete Wood; Conor Gater; Chris Waterhouse (Captain); Kristian Green; Jake Morgan (Cameron Morgan, 67); Dave Meese; Marvin Nisbett (John Hill, 77); Calum Martin; Matt Weyman (Matt Martin, 67) AFC Wulfrunians: Marc Evans; Anthony Collins; Mark Tipton; Graham Ashton (Captain); David Asbury; Richard Palmer; Daniel Crudgington; Michael Eagles (Nathaniel Lawson, 84); Richard Anslow; Nathan Rose-Laing (Adeola Bandele); Ian Boswell.