Church Stretton 1 Hopesgate 4

THIS was a classic game of two halves as Stretton played some of their best football of the season to take an interval lead, but then lost their way as Shropshire County Prem-ier League visitors Hopesgate surged back to win and leapfrog their hosts into the top four.

It was one-way traffic in the opening quarter as Stretton moved the ball sweetly and had their visitors constantly on the back foot. A sweeping move led to the opening goal when Matt Tudor followed up to give Stretton the lead after the goalkeeper could only parry a fierce drive from Dan Woosnam.

Dean Richards and Joe Leask both failed to extend the home lead but when Hopesgate tried to counter they were rebuffed by a well-organised home defence in which Phil Hill and James Taylor were prominent.

Within five minutes of the restart Hopesgate levelled when Taylor was caught in possession and the visiting striker stole away to fire past Anthony Prince.

Stretton became hesitant and Hopesgate seized their chance and took the lead when a looping cross went unchallenged for the striker to give Prince no chance from close range.

Stretton tried to come back but Hopesgate hit them on the break to score a third.

Faced with a two-goal deficit, Stretton heads visibly dropped, and although they tried hard to salvage something from the game Hopesgate made sure of victory with a late goal.