A STRONG second-half performance by the Chester Romans American football team was not enough to stop Shropshire from claiming a narrow win.

The victory keeps Shropshire Revolution second in the NFC 1 South division, while the Romans slip to fifth in the six-team league after being leapfrogged in the standings by Lancashire Wolverines.

A fast start saw Shropshire race into a commanding 13-0 lead at the Cheshire County Sports Club, with it proving to be crucial as Revolution held off a second-half comeback to eventually claim a 22-16 success.

Two touchdowns in the early stages of the match put Shropshire into a 13-0 lead, but Chester got points of their own on the board when a superb offensive drive ended with a safety, making it 13-2.

Wide receiver Tom Morley then scored his first touchdown of the season when he latched on to a throw from his quarterback teammate, Byron Ward.

The Romans weren’t able to capitalise though, as the point after touchdown kick veered right of the posts, leaving the score at 13-8.

Shropshire regained their commanding lead when they scored another touchdown shortly before half-time, leaving the teams to go into the break at 20-8.

After the restart, Ward pulled off another excellent assist as his throw landed in the arms of running back Nadgy Khirat who weaved through two challenges for a score.

Ward and Jake Cooke then helped Chester to two points after touchdown, putting the game back in the balance at 20-16.

But in a controversial finale, the referees called intentional grounding when Ward found himself in his own end zone, giving Shropshire two points from a safety to make a final score of 22-16.

Lancashire’s 52-14 battering of Doncaster sees them rise above Chester into third in the league.

The Romans, meanwhile, are not in action again until Sunday, June 9, when they head to Doncaster to face the currently winless Mustangs.

For that upcoming fixture, the Chester Romans senior side will look to take inspiration from their junior counterparts who recently beat the Doncaster youngsters.

The junior team hosted a tournament on the weekend, winning both of their games against Doncaster Mustangs (34-8) and Sheffield Giants (24-6).