A hat-trick from Angol and an excellent free kick from Shaun Whalley secured the win in an entertaining match against Burton Albion in the Central League Cup
Shrewsbury Town: Cameron Gregory, Ryan Haynes (Davies), Ryan Sears, Kieran Kennedy, Josh Emmanuel, Shaun Whalley (c), Charlie Colkett, Abo Eisa, Doug Loft (Shelis), Lee Angol, James Rowland (Turner).
Substitutions: Christos Shelis, Jamaine Turner, Luke Ward, Sam Agius, Rhys Davies.
Shrewsbury Town faced Burton Albion for the second time in four days, and the third time so far this season.
Shaun Whalley captained the side and made his first start for Town since his injury against Sunderland in October.
First Half:
Town were dominant in the opening exchanges of the match. Both Eisa and Emmanuel were managing to make some dangerous runs into the box but Town couldn’t find the final pass.
In the 18th minute, Burton were awarded a penalty after Sears was penalised for bringing down Harness. He then converted the penalty by hammering the ball into the bottom left of the goal to give Burton the lead.
Following the goal, Town created an incredible passage of play. Colkett threaded a pass through to Eisa on the left flank from the centre circle. Eisa then cut the ball across the box to Angol who managed to get a shot off but the shot was blocked and the danger was soon cleared.
On the 30-minute mark, Cameron Gregory pulled off a fantastic save down to his right from a Harness free kick central to goal. The ball looped over the wall and darted down but Gregory reacted superbly.
Town equalised in the 32 minute thanks to a great run from Eisa down the left flank. He carried the ball 30 yards then cut inside the box and squared a pass to Angol on the 6-yard line who tapped the ball home into the bottom right of the goal.
2 minutes before the first-half came to an end Rowland started a great move for Town with a pass inside to Whalley, who crossed to the back post for Eisa who got a shot off. Hawkins saved, but the ball dropped to Angol who volleyed the ball towards goal but Hawkins was there to deny Town again. The ball was eventually scrambled clear.
Burton scored with the final quick of the half. A quick counter-attack from Burton left Town on the back foot. Hodge carried the ball into the box. His shot took a huge deflection off of Sears and Haynes and the ball trickled past Gregory.
Second Half:
The move of the game came in the 55th minute with another equaliser for Town. Colkett picked apart the Burton back line with an incredible pass to Lee Angol. Hawkins ran off his line to close Angol down but Angol chipped the ball over him and into the net to make it 2-2.
Town took the lead for the first time in the game in the 65th minute. Shrewsbury scored on the counter-attack from a Burton set piece. Rowland opened up Burton’s defence with a fantastic pass to Angol who placed the ball past Hawkins to score his Hat trick.
Kennedy came close to making it four for Town after his shot off of a corner smashed against the outside of the post and Burton cleared their lines.
An incredible free kick from Shaun Whalley gave Town a deserved two-goal cushion. The free kick was taken just outside the box and fired hard into the top left of the goal. Hawkins didn’t stand a chance.
Burton got their third goal in the last few moments of the game. Harness started his move on the centre circle. He turned Davies and ran towards the edge of the box. His shot was hard and low into the bottom left of the goal.