TIVIDALE edged closer to the West Midlands Premier title with a hard fought win against Shawbury United.

The hosts dominated the first half but could not find a way past the visitors’ stubborn backline.

Sam Williams finally broke the deadlock just past the hour when he turned home Andy Parsons centre.

Sam Orbell then hit the post with a rare attempt for Shawbury before skipper Matt Salmon made the game safe with a second for Tivi.

Dean Whitehouse’s side now need just eight more points to lift the title.

But this game was a sharp reminder they cannot afford to let their concentration or work rate slip, after Shawbury frustrated them for more than an hour with a superb defensive display.

In the end Tivi’s superior quality won through for a deserved win – but a nervy one all the same.

The only moment of interest in a low key start to the game saw Orbell ordered off the field for a change of shorts after wearing the wrong colour compared to his team-mates.

Tivi then began to exert some pressure and visiting keeper Gary Turner did well to push behind a Kyle Hill shot, which kicked up nastily off the bobbly surface. From the resulting corner the keeper was nearly embarrassed as he watch James Cooper’s mishit cross bounce off the top of the bar.

Hill, Salmon and Williams, with a header, also kept Turner honest during the opening period. But in truth Tivi were struggling to create any real momentum as an attacking force, partly as a result of some sloppy passing but also due to some great blocking and tackling from Shawbury centre backs Adam Smith and Rory Wood.

Yet while the hosts were being frustrated as an attacking force, the visitors were almost non-existent, with Arthur Doherty’s header from a corner their only real attempt.

Tivi started the second period with a greater sense of urgency and Chilton was wide with a left-footed effort in the opening seconds, after latching on to Brett Clark’s flick on. The latter then also shot wide, before Salmon saw a close ranger header from Williams’ free-kick pushed behind.

Shawbury’s Steve O’Reilly shot wide during a rare attack for the visitors but it was the hosts who were finally beginning to exert some sustained pressure. Hill was once more denied by Turner from distance before Tivi finally broke the deadlock on 62 minutes.

Chilton, often renowned for scoring spectacular goals, was at the centre of the move. But this time it was his quick throw in which found Parsons at the near post and the big defender was able to hold off his marker, turn and fire across the face of goal for Williams to stab home.

The sense of relief around the ground was clear but the game was far from won, as Shawbury then went inches from levelling. Orbell’s superb shot from distance had Beech beaten all ends up and clattered against the upright, with the keeper reacting quickest to jump on the rebound ahead of the lurking and somewhat surprised O’Reilly.

The scare stung Tivi into action and Salmon fired just over after a neat exchange with Chilton, while Clark headed a Cooper cross just wide.

The latter two players then were heavily involved in creating a somewhat scrappy but all important second. Cooper’s pull back was met by Clark at the edge of the box but his low drive was heading straight at Turner before Salmon applied the key deflection from six yards out to send it past the keeper.

Clark and substitute Chris Russell could and should have added more during an entertaining final 15 minutes from the hosts. But it was the points, not the goals, which were all important.

TIVIDALE: Beech, Hill K (Rabone 72), Stamps, Parsons, Turton, Hill A (Falconer 88), Williams, Salmon (c), Chilton (Russell 81), Clark, Cooper Subs not used: Cole, Kettle

Goals: Williams 62, Salmon 73.

SHAWBURY: Turner, Smith (c), Knox, O’Reilly, Wood, Graham, Sadd, Couch (Giles 81), O’Reilly S, Doherty, Orbell Subs not used: McEwan, Small.