CLEE Hill United have put down a promotion marker in Division One of the Sportsjam Mercian League by winning their opening four fixtures.

Wayne Whitbread’s in-form side beat Highly Miners Welfare 3-0 at Knowle Sports Ground last Saturday and top the table on goal difference from AFC Welington

Highly had won their opening two fixtures and Whitbread said: “We were expecting a tough game and that’s exactly what we got.

“Highly started well but we got on top, scored twice before half-time and then wrapped it up with another in the second half. To be honest we could have scored more as we were wasteful in front of goal but I was happy with the result.”

Ollie Smith headed Clee Hill in front just before the half-hour from an Adam Warren cross, and the same deadly pairing combined again for Smith to do the spadework and provide Warren with a simple tap-in. Warren then added an eye-catching third goal in the second half with a 25-yard chip.

Brown Clee lost out in a nine-goal bonanza with Bishop’s Castle Town - the visitors winning 5-4 with a hat-trick from Mark Griffiths backed up by Jack Mellor and Alex Jones - while Church Stretton shot themselves in the foot in losing 2-1 at home to Wrockwardine Wood in the Premier Division.

Aaron Gough netted their goal in the second half but player-manager Paul Smith moaned: “We missed at least three absolute sitters. It was a game we should have won.”