Super Shirebrook secure two huge wins to go top

Having beaten third-placed Beverley a week before, they beat second-placed Wakefield 2-0 on Saturday and then won 4-0 at Parkgate – who are fourth and have seven games in hand on Shirebrook – on Tuesday.

It means they go into the weekend’s game at Dronfield three points clear at the top.

On Saturday, Shirebrook made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when Nat Watson dispossessed Jaydan Sandhu and drove towards goal. He played in Anthony Dwyer down the left and Dwyer cut the ball back to Carlton Carty, who made no mistake as he fired into the bottom corner.

Shirebrook were handed the perfect opportunity to extend their lead in the first minute of the second half as they were awarded a penalty after Josh Waldram was brought down in the box.

Kieren Watson stepped up but saw his spot kick saved by the Wakefield keeper as he got down to his right.

However, Shirebrook got their second in the 58th minute as an Igor Mlynarski cross found Brad McGowan in the box and he headed into the bottom corner.

The task of seeing out the win became a lot harder in the 63rd minute as they were reduced to 10 men after Nat Watson was given a straight red for a challenge on Oliver Green, and he’ll now be suspended for the next four games.

But they saw the win out to claim a huge three points.

Shirebrook manager Stephen Bodle said “That was a great result. I thought we were bang at it. We had a plan and the lads followed it and got our reward.

"First half I thought we were unlucky to only go in one up at half-time. We had a great chance to get that second goal but their keeper made a good save from the penalty.

"We finally got that second goal - a great header from Brad, but we never make things easy for ourselves as we went down to ten.

"But they boys were excellent when we were down a man.”

On Tuesday night, Shirebrook went in front in the opening minute when Carty rounded the keeper to score, then Kieren Watson scored twice before the break.

New signing Danny South then scored the fourth in the second-half.