Shrewsbury Town

Marcus Braddock takes his weekly look back and forward at all things Shrewsbury Town

So here we are at the end of another incredible week for Town and I can scarcely believe how things have gone so far. The important word this week could have been dogged because that how we've been against two teams just hitting form.

This week's results were a test for us, after the strains of an extremely good performance against possibly the best team in the division (two, 3-0 wins since we played them). It's arguably easier to motivate a team to play a “big club” like Wigan but Southend and Oldham at the other end of the table maybe a touch less attractive and  potential banana skins. Two very difficult games to get full points from and quite nervy affairs for this Town fan and I suspect others.

Jon Nolan is very much man of the moment and a double man of the match for me and not just because of his game winning goals. He also had a part in Stefan Payne's goal and his performances this week have been nothing short of superb. He's quick and he's tenacious and I cant quite believe he's ours. We've been fortunate to see some excellent footballers since we moved to Oteley Road but I'm struggling to think of one who has made such complete performances, near flawless.

But as good as Jon Nolan has been, he's the icing on the cake and I've never been one to forget about cake. To a man we defended, we rode our luck a bit at times but I think we're overdue a bit of luck.  For the most part we're looking out for each other, there are no passengers. Our football seems quite proactive, when we have the ball we look to get it forward and damage the opposition, when we don't have the ball, it's all about getting it back quickly wherever it is on the pitch. I think I have mentioned this before but that's one of the things I love about this team, their desire to recover what they've lost immediately.

Our next test is the visit of Blackburn Rovers, new home of our former number one Jayson Leutwiler. Rovers have won four of their seven games so far in League one but have lost three, not the start that the Ewood Park faithful may have been used to in recent decades. I'll cover Rovers more fully in Fridays preview article. Thankfully the team have a full seven days rest before the game and to be honest I need a bit of a rest as a fan! It's a good time to take a step back an look at the league table, it's payback for those times when things haven't gone our way, you deserve this.

Football in the county Town is experiencing a a bit of a purple patch, Haughmond have enjoyed the congratulation that goes with a successful run in the F.A. Cup, holding former league team Boston United to a draw, I'd like to add my congratulations too.

Shrewsbury Town Ladies thrashed Leek Town in their F.A. Cup game with four goals coming in the first half.  In the second half the Town managed the game and it finished 5-2 With Katie Doster getting a brace. On Wednesday the Ladies face an Aston Villa Development team at Heath Hayes F.C at 7.45 pm.

The Under 18 team narrowly lost 4-3 at Burton Albion last Tuesday and face Accrington at home on Saturday at eleven at the Sundorne Sports Village.

COYB!!!