Tigers boss frustrated despite win, as season meanders to a finish

Tigers, fourth in the table, closed the gap on Tadcaster thanks to the leaders’ defeat at Maltby - but the Brewers have two games in hand.

Shaw admitted the 2015/16 campaign was meandering to a finish, and he’s itching to turn his attention to next season.

“It’s an end of season runaround, but we didn’t lose which I suppose is a big positive,” he said.

“It’s disappointing that we’re mathematically still in the title race, but actually not be in it.

“We kind of want the season to be over and done with, the 1861 Club to be sorted, pre-season friendlies and excitement of the new season.

“The season finishes for me when we’re not involved in competitive football and as much as there are three points on the table each week, I don’t feel it’s competitive enough.

“Losing is a big pain in my side, but what’s more painful is playing for three points and not being able to do much with them.

“We’ve got nothing really to play for, I had high aspirations but they were probably a bit false, we set too many high bars.”

There were other reasons for cheer on a night that saw little in the way of attractive football.

Shaw highlighted the contribution of three players.

“Clean sheet, massive positive, Julian Lawrence and Kieran Fenton, massive positives,” he said.

“Seventeen-year-old Mason Gee plays his first 60 minutes, massive positive.

Fenton put in an assured, all-action performance at centre-half alongside Lawrence.

Shaw is buoyed by the former Nottingham Forest defender’s performance, but concerned he could be another player lost to a higher level.

He said: “Kieran Fenton can play centre-half or left-back, he’s just naturally gifted, a good footballer. We’re lucky to have him.

“He’s only going to get better and better.

“We get players who’ve been neglected, we turn them around and help them along their way.

“He’ll probably be the next one we don’t get to keep long enough.

“Cottingham had another good game, people have been coming to try and get him.

“I’d love to be top of the food chain in non league but we’re not there.”