Town's unbeaten league start ended in high scoring game
Shrewsbury Town were narrowly defeated by three goals to two against Preston North End, seeing their three-game unbeaten run in the league come to an end.
Jamaine Turner had the first chance for Shrewsbury in the second minute of the game when he reached the end of Lewis Redding’s cross, but was unable to find the target. They continued to remain on the front foot in the opening minutes, but couldn’t capitalise on another goal scoring opportunity when Ryan Grosvenor struggled to reach Turner’s pass. Defender Luke Ward managed to reach James Rowland’s corner cross but heads just shy of the crossbar. Preston North End defender Charlie Lyons was caught out at the back and intercepted by Turner, who fired his shot straight at goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran.
Shrewsbury were finally rewarded with their efforts on goal in the 12th minute when Ward towered over the rest of the players in the air and headed in the ball from close range. Straight from the kick-off, Preston were looking for the equaliser and nearly found it but an interception by both Zac Hartley and Ward denied Ethan Walker from getting near Cameron Gregory’s net. Preston only needed five minutes to find their equaliser when Walker, who was denied at goal just a minute earlier slotted the ball past Gregory and into the bottom right corner. The home team nearly took the lead again when Corcoran misplaced his pass which found Turner, but quickly found himself in traffic. He managed to find Grosvenor but his shot was just high of the target. Countless opportunities followed for both teams, but neither were unable to take the lead into the break.
Preston were the quickest team out of the blocks after the break, winning the first corner of the half two minutes in. Ward was the highest in the air again and managed to head the ball away from his net and to safety. The away team went into the lead for the first time, thanks to Walker who managed to head the ball over the head of the out of position Gregory, to get his second of the afternoon. It was then Shrewsbury’s turn to try and find the equaliser, and they nearly found it but Turner’s shot didn’t concern goalkeeper Corcoran. Walker got his hat-trick and Preston’s third in the 52nd minute after he shot across the goal and into the bottom right hand corner.
With 23 minutes to go, Shrewsbury narrowed the score line to just one goal when substitute Archie Elmore found the end of Kian Taylor’s pass and struck home. There was no time to celebrate though, as he quickly picked the ball out of the net and ran back to the halfway line to resume play, and look for that all-important equaliser. The Blues had many opportunities to find the net in the remaining minutes, but Preston remained strong and denied Shrewsbury each time.
An away trip to Fleetwood Town are next in the league for Shrewsbury Town and they will be hoping to come away with all three points.
Team:
Gregory, Hartley, Walker (R.Davies 68), Rowland, Ward, T.Davies (Sears 90 +1), Turner (Elmore 57), Taylor, Grosvenor, Redding (Leask 57), Mwandwe.
Unused sub:
Atkinson.