CHURCH Stretton left it late but won 3-1 at home to Shifnal United 97 to move within touching distance of the Mercian League summit.

Dan Perry’s goal had been cancelled out by Shifnal’s Ben Mcauley but Dean Richards and Sean Gough ensured a maximum haul for the third-placed hosts who closed the gap to two points on leaders Oakengates Athletic.

There was no such joy for Craven Arms Town in Division One, though, with Luke Hicks’s strike a scant consolation in a 5-1 reverse at Coven United. Luke Johnson, Chris Jones, Nathan Phillips and Philip Barnett (2) netted for the hosts.

Elsewhere, Brown Clee enjoyed a 5-2 win at Albrighton.

In the Shrewsbury & District Sunday League Division One, Norbury were edged out 4-3 in a topsy-turvy clash at Telegraph.

Despite soaking up some early pressure, Mark Hudson’s daisy-cutter and an Andrew Edwards rebound gave Norbury a two-goal lead.

However, the hosts halved the deficit before half-time and then went on to lead 4-2. John Hudson scored to make things interesting but Norbury, who host Steam Wagon on Sunday (10.30), could not find a fourth.

Meanwhile, William Caswell’s strike was in vain as Roebuck lost 4-1 at home to Bromyard Downs in the Herefordshire Sunday League Northern Division.

The weekend’s only rugby union fixture saw Ludlow exit the Midlands Senior Vase with a 22-0 defeat at Droitwich in the last 16.