POLYMAC SERVICES MIDLAND FOOTBALL ALLIANCE Shifnal 0 - 2 Atherstone Town Jai Stanley 29, Jae Martin 53, Steve Mobley reporting from the Pheonix Stadium Adders - Richard Williams, Chris Tullin, Dominic Reece, Danny Haines, Leigh Everitt (c), Dave Foy, Danny Gaunt (Matt Brown) , Jai Stanley, Nathan Jones, Luke Barlone (Zekiel Tomlinson), Jae Martin (Ashley Wells) Subs (Unused) Gareth Williams, Lee Darlison September 2003 a dark cloud surronded Atherstone as the town lost it's football club, Four men walked away from Sheepy Road that day declaring to each other that they would do anything they could to get a football team playing back at Sheepy Road, and as soon as they could They kept that promise and in August 2004 Atherstone Town were born and took to the field at Sheepy Road under the guidance of Jimmy Ginnelly, four years on an amazing journey was today completed at the Pheonix Stadium Shifnal as Atherstone Town won their third League title in four years and returned to a level of football they can now gain the due respect they deserve for. What an amazing journey that would not have been completed if it were not for all the hard work on and of the field from all the people who have come, gone and are still apart of, give yourselfs a pat on the backs ladies and Gentlemen THE ADDERS ARE BACK. The sun was out as Atherstone's loyal band of fans jorneyed north into Staffordshire to Shifnal. Before todays game three teams stood in with a chance of challenging for the Midland Alliance title, Atherstone had been challenged all the way by Loughborough Dynamo and Market Drayton Town, all Atherstone had to do was win the game and the Midland Alliance title was theirs. Danny Gaunt one of the only surviving members from The Adders first season in 2004-2005 saw an early header easily saved by Shifnal's keeper. Atherstone had early claims for a penalty waived away when Nathan Jones was pulled down in the Shifnal area, at the other end Richard Willaims saved to his feet as Shifnal threatened. Seven minutes in Nathan Jones who was looking busy and putting himself about saw a long range shot go wide. A minute later Leigh Everitt was cautioned with a yellow card for a tackle on the right wing, shifnal then tested Richard Williams from the resulting free kick. Shifnal looked to be getting a hold on the game and were shutting out every oppertunity Atherstone had. Dominic Reece saw a free kick from the right wing across the six yard bo to the back post to Danny Gaunt, the wing wizzard just failed to make contact with the ball and it went out for a goalkick to Shifnal. Danny Haines then cleared from his own eighteen yard box and the rebound was put just past Richard Williams left upright. Then as Adders seemed to be hitting a closed door in the Shifnal goal Jai Stanley picked up a ball twenty yards out, unchallenged STanley placed a low twenty yard drive past Shifnals diving keeper and into the bottom right hand corner to put a jubilant Jimmy Gennelly and Atherstone into the lead. Shifnal then threatened the Adders goal again going agonisingly wide. Danny Haines nearly put Atherstone two up on half time from a near post header from a Jai Stanley corner. The second half started brightly and Atherstone started where they left off in the first half and doubled their lead, the build up started when Jai Staley took a free kick twenty yards out left of the d on the edge of the eighteen yard box, his free kick rebounded back of the wall and the midfield genius then fired in another shot that took a deflection for a corner. Jai stanley rushed over to the left corner to take the corner kick, the midfielder floated a lovely ball into the path of Jae Martin who fired home a near post header to put the game out of Shifnal Town's reach. Danny Haines and Matt Brown had efforts along with Ashley Wells late on to put the Adders further ahead. The final whistle sounded and jubilant celebrationms proceeded the Shifnal pitch as Leigh Everitt lifted the Polymac Midland Aliiance trophy above his head.