FOR the second week in succession, Gornal made heavy work of securing three points against a side lower in the table as they consolidated their third-place in the West Midlands Premier (Regional) Division.

With fourth placed Bustleholme also winning and due to visit Garden Walk this Saturday, it was vital Gornal took three points as the race at the top of the table reaches the advanced stages.

Gornal had the best of the early exchanges and almost took the lead on five minutes when good work by midfielders Dave Meese and Matt Martin from a corner saw the later fire a shot into the side netting.

On 13 minutes, it was Meese who broke the deadlock when he added another excellent goal to his collection of stunners this season when he beat Shawbury keeper Gary Turner from the edge of the area with a shot on the outside of his foot.

Gornal continued to create chances and on 25 minutes a Chris Waterhouse header crashed against the bar from a Matt Martin corner and just minutes later Cameron Morgan worked himself into a good position only to fire narrowly over the bar.

Despite having the majority of possession in the first half, Gornal held only a single goal lead at the break.

An early opportunity to double the lead on 50 minutes went begging when Morgan was unable to latch onto a chance created by Martin and on 64 minutes a clearance by Sam Orbell denied Marvin Nesbitt a goal.

Shawbury had a good shout for a penalty on 70 minutes when Daniel Graham claimed a foul in the area during a rare excursion by the home side into the Gornal box.

Just when it seemed Gornal would have to make do with a single goal victory for the second Saturday in a row, excellent work by Matt Martin on the left wing enabled Meese to set up Cameron Morgan who made space for himself to fire home on 80 minutes.

Shawbury could have made for a nervous closing minutes with 88 minutes on the clock when a mistake by Waterhouse let in Daniel Martin-Hinchcki but the striker was unable to take advantage.

Shawbury United: Gary Turner; Adam Smith (Captain); Sam Orbell (Sam Rimmer, 83); David Barnett; Patrick Ellis; Graham Couch; Steven O’Reilly; Kevin McGarvey; Daniel Graham; Scott Graham; Daniel Martin-Hinchcki.

Gornal Athletic: James Pemberton; Richard Young; Pete Wood; Kieron Parsons; Chris Waterhouse (Captain); Gurdeep Wilkhoo; Dave Meese (Andy Dicken, 81); Matt Martin (Gregg Gray, 78); Cameron Morgan; Marvin Nisbett (Jake Morgan, 72).