Shrewsbury Town

Marcus Braddock reflects on all things Shrewsbury Town

I'm beginning to hate Wembley Stadium. It's nothing personal as it's not a person and the people I came into contact at the stadium were all friendly and professional. There were plenty of positives, I also had a nice day out criticising my brother's route and eating my mother's beef sandwiches. It was also the week of my son's 18th birthday and on Sunday I found that he'd learned some rather grown up language to describe his feelings upon the scoring of the goal.

I just find the whole process - of arranging to go to London, booking time off, planning routes, worrying about the result, the journey, the whole fiasco of upset on the traditional day of rest - tiring. Of course I'd have forgotten all of this had we managed to get something there and that's the crux of my budding disdain for the national stadium. We've not been particularly fortunate there and this time it was our misfortune to come up against a team that has been on the up for a couple of seasons and were at Wembley for the first time with a massive following of rather excited fans.

It wasn't a pretty or sophisticated game but Lincoln looked fresh and wanted it more on that particular day. In mitigation, this has been an incredible season but it's been hard work for our small squad. I felt the team missed out midfield colossus, Abu Ogogo. His experience has been invaluable this season and his work isn't always noticed as he snuffs out moves before they happen and moves the ball away but his strengths are appreciated if social media is any guide.

Now the palaver of the cup is out of the way we can concentrate on the bread and butter of the league with Bradford City hosting this Thursday evening at 19.45. The Bantams have been having a tough time of it recently after starting the season well but have new manager Simon Grayson working hard to find his second win since his appointment in February. I'm sure they will be hoping to see a demoralized Shrewsbury Town but I'd back us to react well as we have done previously.

The under-18 team lost 4-1 to Wigan on Saturday, a boggy pitch put paid to our passing game as Wigan striker Joe Gerlhard scored a hat-trick. Tyrone Ofori got one back late on for Town but the three goal lead was insurmountable that late in the game. This weekend Town U18s entertain Morecambe at Sundorne Sports Village at 11.00.

Off the pitch there was good news for the Montgomery Waters Meadow as CEO Brian Caldwell announced that the paintwork at the stadium is to be repainted and repaired after a dispute with the stadium builders was solved via compromise. The work will take around 30 to 40 weeks.