Bridgnorth 2 Wolves 1

Wulfs, sponsored by DMW Environmental Safety Ltd, returned to League action with a very difficult game against leaders Bridgnorth Town at the Brinsford Stadium.

The task was made all the more difficult by the absence of several players for a variety of different reasons.

On the positive side, Danny Crudgington had been signed from Gornal Athletic in time to take up a place on the bench.

 As expected, the game opened up very cagily with both sides putting out the feelers.

Wulfs had the first effort at goal when James Skedgel’s early header from a corner was cleared off the line by Luke Brown.

Their only other real chance came via a Jason Scott 25 yard free kick which sailed straight at the keeper while Bridgnorth were causing problems with near post crosses.

It was from one such cross in the 19th minute that Bridgnorth took the lead.  Steve Broome delivered a good free kick from the right and Mark Wells attacked the near post unchallenged to head past the advancing Tim Tipton and into the net.

Wulfs were struggling to get any attacking momentum going against a strong and well organised Bridgnorth rearguard and their frustration showed when Robin Sheffield went into the book for a late tackle.

Bridgnorth were looking the more threatening side when they broke out and almost made it two in the 34th minute when Darren Leonard crossed in and the lively Gareth Horler put a free header across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.

Three minutes later Mark Neville sent in a free kick from out wide on the right for Mark  Wells to attack again but this time his goal bound effort was deflected wide for a corner which Wells again met at the near post but sent his header wide of the goal.

Wulfs only other real chance five minutes before the break when Chip Southern cut inside from the right and passed on to Robin Sheffield who carried forward before hitting a 20 yard shot just wide.

After a below par first half performance Wulfs needed a good start to the second half and almost got it 3 minutes in when Simon Hardle crossed into the area for an unmarked Ricky Anslow to head wide from 8 yards out.

Bridgnorth the immediately had a very similar chance when Darren Leonard put a header wide following a pin point cross from Liam Bood.

Wulfs hit back and in the 55th minute Mark Tipton struck a sublime cross field ball to Chip Southern and he cut inside before hitting a left foot shot just wide of the target.

A batch of substitutions, including Danny Crudgington’s debut appearance, then took place but the game still centred around solid defending.

The only real sniff Wulfs had of levelling came from a penalty shout as the ball bounced up and struck a defenders arm but that was about as good as it got.

Things took a turn for the worse in the 75th minute when striker Andy Mitchell had a temporary aberration and launched himself recklessly into a tackle and was shown the red card.

Wulfs continued the forward momentum they had been enjoying in the second half but to no avail and it was the Shropshire side who doubled their lead in the 90th minute when a breakaway saw Jason Pike squared for substitute Zac Jackson to tap in from close range.

Ironically, from the kick off, James Skedgel broke down the right wing and crossed for Ricky Anslow to volley home but it was all too late.