Shrewsbury Town

Town: Burton, Carpenter, Smith, Westray, Richards, Evans (Ryan 6), Easthope (Fletcher 70), Jones (Stephenson 80), Musslewhite, Molinuex, Gwilliams.

Subs not used: Holmes

Goals: Ryan 73, Molineux 87. 

Good playing surfaces enable players to play!

Our first half performance was as good as it’s been all season as we dominate  possession playing quickly across the pitch and through the middle with numerous passes which meant Westray, Musslewhite and Molinuex began to look threatening. Chances did come throughout the first half with Musslewhite shooting wide on 10 minutes, Westray having three attempts forcing two good saves from the keeper and narrowly missing with a well struck free kick.  Molinuex was next with his well timed run behind the Macc defence to go round the keeper and shoot into the side netting having been forced wide with the scores surprisingly level at half time. 

More of the same we hoped for and Gwilliams began the second half well with a positive run and shot on 48 minutes forcing an early corner, then Molinuex found himself 1v1 with the keeper as he took an early strike to force a good save on 55 minutes and a good forward run from Richards at left back again forcing another save. Constant pressure must result in goals otherwise the opponents get chances, and so it was as we were easily beaten down our left as the cross came in Smith reach for the ball only to foul the Macc striker and concede the penalty which found us 1-0 down on 64 minutes. 

Largely down to ourselves because we stopped playing through the areas and began to hit longer hopeful balls, which is not our philosophy and will not develop players the way we want to.  So with a couple of changes and some firm words the boys found some self belief again and began to probe.  The goals did come with Gwilliams again running at defenders and as the ball fell to Ryan and he struck an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to get us back in the game. 

We have not mentioned Callum Burton thus far but his concentration throughout was very good as he was called upon twice late on to deny Macc an undeserved winner. 

Finally our winner came on 87 minutes when Burton release the ball to Carpenter who fed Gwilliams early, he in turn found Molineux on the edge of their box who turned and hit a low shot into the corner of the net and seal a well deserved victory. 

Overall the boys have to believe in what we are telling them but above all believe in themselves to play the way they can.