PLUCKY Shrewton United produced one of their best performances of the season but still ended up empty-handed after a late goal earned Southbrook all three points.

The hosts were made to pay after remarkably failing to score despite having five one-on-one chances in the second half, with their wastefulness punished in the 88th minute.

The high tempo pressing game seemed to stun the visitors who at times struggled to get out of their own half, although they might have snatched the lead in first half injury time when an effort from the edge of the box took a big deflection looped wide off Shrewton’s skipper Martin Bragger and looped wide of the goal.

The second period saw Shrewton produce their best half of the season as clear chances kept coming but were repeatedly kept being squandered.

The first golden chance after the break fell to Kieron Kiff who used his electric pace to get behind the Southbrook defence but he dragged his effort narrowly wide of the far post with just the keeper to beat.

Moments later, an identical opportunity fell to Carlos Downie who struggled found it difficult to get the ball out from under his feet and as he closed in on goal, but he scuffed his shot wide when he seemed certain to score.

Shrewton’s final chance fell to Downie with ten minutes remaining as he once again got beyond the Southbrook defence but, again, shot dragged another effort wide.

The number of wasted chances made it left many in the ground amazed and it seemed almost inevitable that Shrewton would suffer a cruel defeat.

That moment arrived With just two minutes on the clock, as a Shrewton’s keeper Matt Cross rushed to clear a through ball on the edge of the box but the ball his clearance fell to the feet of a Southbrook player 40 yards from goal, who finished over the keeper’s head.

Shrews’ manager Scott Young said: “I have never seen so many clear-cut chances missed but to be fair the lads have almost been thrown together for this game but they played like a real team with so much commitment and passion.”