John-Lewis looks back on Checkatrade Trophy win
Shrewsbury Town Striker Lenell John-Lewis was pleased that the side showed character to make it through to the last-16 of the Checkatrade Trophy.
Town fell behind early against Port Vale, but scored twice in the second-half to progress.
“It wasn’t easy”, Lenell admitted.
“Obviously first-half we didn’t start well and we went a goal down but I think with the character of the team, which we’ve managed to show a few times this season, we managed to get the win.
“It’s never good to concede in the first minute. It’s a bit of a blow, but you’ve got to gather back together and we managed to keep it at one-nil going into half-time and then came out and tried to win the second-half.”
There was a bit of confusion over who had scored the second goal, but Lenell admitted that it was Shaun Whalley who bundled it home after his own shot hit the post.
“Shaun scored the winner to be fair”, said John-Lewis.
“The ‘keepers made a great save and it’s hit the post, and I don’t think it was going in, so Shaun had to finish it. He finished it with some panache and he was in the right place at the right time to get the winner.
“I don’t know where the late goals are coming from. I think the character in the team has a never-say-die attitude and it seems to be working, but hopefully we won’t keep it too late in the next game.”
Town are now into the last-16 of the Checkatrade trophy and John-Lewis is starting to get excited about the competition.
“I think you’ve got to”, Lenell said.
“The end goal is the prospect of playing at Wembley and you don’t get that chance many times in your career, if any, so I think you have to take it seriously. It’s realistically a cup that we can try and win, so we have to get excited by it.”