Boldmere St. Michaels 3 - 2 Tipton Town
Boldmere started the game in second place following Market Drayton Town regaining top spot following their mid-week game-in-hand 3 points. Tipton Town stood between Boldmere and top spot, the title outsiders had enjoyed home league and cup success over 'The Mikes' earlier this season.
The game started with Tipton looking to gain an early advantage. The best effort fell on 7 minutes when a cross by ex-Walsall trainee Eric Bowen fell to Swain who headed down for Nathan Jones who was unable to beat the alert Jenkins in the home goal.
As the half wore on Boldmere began to dominate and the frustrations of Tipton became apparent when the lively Ricky Baker had his game ended after a poor tackle on 19 minutes, the winger replaced by Simeon Tulloch.
Five minutes later the home side drew first blood when Kirk Smith's corner found the in-coming McNaught whose bullet header beat Wes Cox in the visitors' goal, who despite getting a touch on the ball could not get enough on it.
With seconds of first half to go Boldmere went two up, a low cross by Smith was back heeled by McNaught and then back heeled by Jason Holmes on the six yard line, into the net.
'The Mikes' started the second half as they ended the first. Another Kirk Smith corner found McNaught to head in his second goal and Boldmere's third of the afternoon.
At 3-0 down Tipton began to play and they strung together an extended period of possession. Nathan Jones shot over the bar on 50 minutes and once more four minutes later. A third chance in ten minutes came his way but his effort rattled the cross bar, while Danny Bragoli could only send the re-bound high and wide.
A 67th minute a free kick by Tom Stevenson was won in an Arial challenge by Wood to give Jason Holmes a chance at the near post, but he shot over from a tight angle.
With 3 minutes to go Tipton Town scored what looked to be a consolation goal when Chris Morris latched onto a loose ball, with no-one closing him down, his shot from 20 yards out left Jenkins no chance. In the dying seconds Tipton pulled back another when Chris Morris turned provider. his ball into the box found the head of Jones to see the ball over the line.
1.JENKINS 2.SWAIN 3.STEVENSON 4.HAMILTON 5.WOOD 6.McNAUGHT 7.WELLER 8.SMITH 9.HOLMES 10.OSBORN 11.BAKER
SUBS 12.JUXON (on 51 mins) 13.BUTLER 14. RUTTER (on 77 mins) 15. TULLOCH (on 23 mins)16. FISHER
