LONG time league leaders Lye Town reach a pivotal point of their season this Saturday when they take on second placed Shawbury United at Stourbrudge Road - writes NICK PULLEN

Lye are defending a splendid 25 match unbeaten run in the West Midlands League this term and joint-boss Martin Thomas claimed:

"If we can win our next two games, it will mean we've gone one calendar year with only one defeat - and that was the final game of last season when we lost to Wolves Casuals!

"Most importantly, we want to keep our unbeaten run going, but as for the league title, well that won't be won in December - or  January and February for that matter".

Lye warmed up for Saturday's showdown with Shawbury by booking their place in the Worcestershire Senior Urn semi final by beating Dudley Sports 5-0 on Tuesday night.

Thomas used the occasion to ultilise his squad, taking off top marksman Ricky Anslow and Stuart Ward early in the second half and replacing them with Lee Dimmock and Kevin
Nickle.

Nicky Pugh also made a welcome return when featuring for the final 15 minutes and Thomas confirmed: "It was good to see him back".

Ben Wilkins struck twice for Lye against Sports with Anslow, Steve Weaver and Simon Williams also on target.

Andy Mitchell will be missing on Saturday owing to wedding duty but Thomas is confident Scott Moore, who didn't feature against Sports, will play a part.

Although not a traditionally a good time for big attendances, Lye are hoping for a bumper crowd to shout them on against Shawbury.