Morris goal sends Town to Wembley
Shrewsbury: Dean Henderson, Ben Godfrey, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Abu Ogogo, Carlton Morris (Stefan Payne, 81), Bryn Morris, Jon Nolan (Lenell John-Lewis, 94) Aristote Nsiala and Alex Rodman (Nathan Thomas, 70).
Subs: Craig MacGillivray, Max Lowe, Nathan Thomas, Arthur Gnahoua, Lenell John-Lewis, Abo Eisa, and Stefan Payne.
Subs: Bevis Mugabi, Rhys Browne, Sam Surridge, Alex Fisher, Steve Phillips, Shaun Donnellan and Alefe Santos.
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Assistants: Alix Pashley and Mathew Jones
Fourth Official: John Brooks
Attendance: 4118 (299)
Team News: James Bolton still isn’t fit after taking a knock against Charlton; Ben Godfrey will replace him at right back, as Luke Hendrie is cup tied. Bryn Morris will play in the centre defensive midfield position. Arthur Gnahoua is introduced to the bench.
A dominant and confident Shrews side saw Paul Hurst’s men beat Yeovil Town one nil to progress to Checkatrade final. A headed goal in the second half from Carlton Morris was the only difference on the score sheet as Town progress to face Lincoln at Wembley.
Jon Nolan had an early chance just a minute after kick off, after a counter attack crafted by Carlton Morris, but Nolan couldn’t find the target for Town and shot the ball over the bar.
Another chance fell for Town shortly after, a great through ball from Nolan into the box fell to winger Alex Rodman, who found Carlton Morris in the box but Glover’s defender Omar Sowunmi managed to get his body in front of the ball to block the shot.
It wasn’t until the 20th minute till either team had another chance, Town once again countered fast, putting the ball out onto the wing to Shaun Whalley, who’s shot was deflected away from goal.
26 minutes in, Town were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, Whalley delivered in a cross but Yeovil’s Jordan Green managed to header the ball out for a corner, which then proved to be fruitless.
The Shrews were dominating the possession, with Whalley and Rodman pumping balls into The Glover’s box. In the 34th minute Ben Godfrey had a chance from just inside the box to put Town a goal up but couldn’t manage to keep the ball under the bar.
As the first half was drawing to a close, another chance for The Shrews came along, Abu Ogogo latched onto a Whalley cross but Towns captain couldn’t find the target and headed the ball over the bar and the scores remained level.
Both teams went into the break with the scores as they started. Town had the better of the chances but couldn’t quite find the back of the net after having the rub of the green for most of the half.
Second half:
The Shrews started the second half as they finished the first, Omar Beckles lofted a cross from the wing into the box and Whalley volleyed the ball just wide of the post.
The first real problem for The Glover’s keeper John Maddison came in the 56th minute, Nolan’s effort from outside the box was straight down the keeper’s throat.
Yeovil’s Otis Khan was given a yellow card for a foul on Rodman, as the he looked set to counter on the break.
Finally, Town capitalised on the pressure heaped on Yeovil after a dominant and bright start to the game. In the 63rd minute Whalley’s corner kick was headed home by number nine Carlton Morris, giving town the lead over the visitors.
After another ten minutes without any clear cut chances, Nathan Thomas nearly made an almost instant impact when he came on, the winger passed a through ball which cut the defence in half but Ogogo couldn’t quite latch onto the ball.
Yeovil had a chance as the game was drawing to a close, Francois Zoko drove the ball into the box and lashed a ball across the face of the six-yard box but Town managed to clear the ball from danger, keeping the one goal advantage intact.
Whalley was given a yellow card shortly after for obstructing Khan.
Dean Henderson made a great save in the 92nd minute to keep Shrews in the lead. Yeovil’s Khan hit the ball hard and low towards the bottom right hand corner but Henderson got a firm hand to parry the ball away.