Askey's men earn a well-deserved point against Bristol Rovers

Town: Joel Coleman, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Lee Angol, Alex Gilliead, Luke Waterfall, Ryan Sears, Josh Laurent, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant (Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 69).

Subs: Steve Arnold, Ryan Haynes, Greg Docherty, Arthur Gnahoua, Lenell John-Lewis, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Ryan Barnett.

Bristol Rovers:  Jack Bonham, Daniel Leadbitter, Tom Lockyer, Tony Craig, Ed Upson, Ollie Clarke, Stefan Payne, Tom Nichols (Kyle Bennett, 45), Sam Matthews (Tom Broadbent, 61), Joe Martin, Alex Rodman.

Subs: Adam Smith, Tom Broadbent, Alex Jakubiak, Gavin Reilly, Kyle Bennett, Michael Kelly, Luke Russe.

Referee: Antony Coggins

Assistants: Ian Smedley and Mark Cunliffe

Fourth official: Kevin Morris.

Attendance: 5759 (639)

Shrewsbury Town earned a well-deserved point against a determined Bristol Rovers side.

Town did well to earn a point, despite going a goal down in the second half. Stefan Payne notched home a penalty for the Pirates, which was cancelled out by an own goal from Daniel Leadbitter.

Team News:

Askey makes three changes to his starting 11 to face Bristol Rovers. Ryan Sears, Omar Beckles and Ollie Norburn are all introduced into the starting line-up. Greg Docherty and Ryan Haynes are returned to the bench and James Bolton is left out of the squad due to injury.

First Half:

The first 10 minutes of the game was a positive period for Town, as Lee Angol and Alex Gilliead were proving to be a constant threat to the Pirates back four. Town were the dominant team, wielding most of the possession but couldn’t create a clear chance in the opening minutes.

Frustration was starting to grow for the Pirates after sustained pressure from Town’s attacking contingent. Joe Martin was given a yellow card by referee Antony Coggins for pulling down Ollie Norburn, as the midfielder looked to break on the counter-attack.

Rovers were finding clear-cut chances hard to come by in the first half an hour. The Pirates number eight, Ollie Clarke, resorted to a long-range effort, but saw his shot balloon over the bar.

Norburn decided to have his own long-range effort in the 35^th minute. The midfielder drove towards the 25-yard line and let off a powerful driven shot towards goal.  The Rovers keeper was equal to the shot and made a good parrying save.

Tony Craig was given a yellow card shortly after for pulling back Ryan Sears just out side of the box.

A late, late challenge on Norburn by Tom Nichols was also enough to see the Pirates number 10 go into the referees book, as the attacking-midfielder was given a yellow card. Anthony Grant was also booked for his reaction to the foul.

Omar Beckles came close to giving the Shrews the lead heading into the half-time break. A lovely ball delivered in from a free kick founds its way to the defender. Beckles directed his header towards goal, but the keeper did well to claim the ball.

On the stroke of half-time Clarke was the fourth Bristol Rovers player to be given a yellow card. Clarke tripped up Grant in the middle of the park.

Both teams went into the break equal on the score sheet. A dominant performance from Town would have pleased John Askey, but his side were unable to capitalise and take the lead.

Second Half:

It was only four minutes into the second-half until Angol managed to register a shot on goal. Town came out from the break looking to continually pile pressure on the Rovers defensive line. Angol managed to squeeze in-between Lockyer and Craig and let off a shot just inside the box, but the keeper stood firm and claimed the ball well.

Rovers were given a penalty in the 52^nd minute after Luke Waterfall brought down Clarke inside the box. Town’s former striker, Stefan Payne, took the penalty and managed to squeeze the ball in, despite Coleman getting a hand to the ball.

Whalley was proving to be a big problem for the Pirates number 29 on the right wing. Whalley did well to get the ball past his man and Martin was late to the challenge, fouling the Town winger in the process. He was given his second yellow card of the game and was sent off by the referee.

Town finally got the deserved equaliser after some great attacking play by Town’s right-winger. Whalley drove ferociously into the box and delivered in a hard driven cross, which was turned into the net for an own goal by Leadbitter in the 71^st minute.

Whalley was booked in the 76^th minute for kicking the ball away after the ref had stopped play.

Town were getting the better of the chances against the Pirates 10 men, but Askey’s men were struggling to find a winner against the Rovers determined defence.

The game came to an end with both teams earning a draw and taking a point. Askey’s men worked tirelessly until the last minute but couldn’t find the goal that would give his side all three points.