Carlton Morris scores the goal as Town secure their place at W
Town: Dean Henderson, Ben Godfrey, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley (Joe Riley, 89), Carlton Morris (Stefan Payne, 69), James Bolton, Bryn Morris, Jon Nolan (Lenell John-Lewis, 90), Aristote Nsiala and Alex Rodman.
Subs: Craig MacGillivray, Joe Riley, Max Lowe, Lenell John-Lewis, Sam Jones, Abo Eisa and Stefan Payne.
Subs: Ahmed Kashi, Sullay Kaikai, Ben Reeves, Dillon Phillips, Stephy Mavididi, Naby Sarr and Michal Zyro.
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Assistants: Shaun Hudson and Micheal George
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley
Attendance: 9026 (1568)
The second leg of the Play-Off semi final went to plan for Town with a solid one nil victory over the visitors. A second half goal from Carlton Morris gave Town the lead and secured Town a spot in the League One Play-Off final at Wembley.
Team News: Town field an un-changed starting 11 that played Thursday night away at Charlton in the first leg. Top goal scorer Stefan Payne remains on the bench despite having a good impact on Thursday night. Charlton make three changes to their starting line up. Ahmed Kashi, Ben Reeves and Stephy Mavididi start on the bench. Introduced into the starting 11 are Tarique Fosu, Joe Aribo and Anferne Dijksteel.
First half:
The first ten minutes started of with high intensity with both teams battling for the ball in the midfield. Town were putting pressure on the Charlton back four early doors but Alex Rodman couldn’t find the back of the net with a volley due to a good low save from Addicks keeper Ben Amos.
Town’s relentless pressure earned the team a corner in the 23rd minute. Shaun Whalley delivered in a cross but no Town player could get a substantial connection on the ball and The Addicks had a goal kick.
Charlton had their own chance just a minute later but Josh Magennis’ shot from inside the box ballooned over the bar.
Toto Nsiala was called into action later in the half. Nicky Ajose found himself through on goal but the Town defender recovered well and managed to block the Charlton striker’s shot and put the ball our for a corner, which subsequently lead to nothing.
Charlton were having a good spell on the ball. Dean Henderson was called into action as Magennis was driving towards the Town goal. Henderson got out well and claimed the ball.
Town had a chance in the last moments of the half. Some nice passing play around the box by Carlton Morris and Rodman opened up a space in the box but Amos saved the winger’s shot.
Both sides went into the halftime break level on the score line. Town had a bright start to the game and both teams had chances, neither side could capitalise and get the first goal of the game.
Second half:
The Adickks came out from the break looking to take the game to Town. Charlton were pumping balls into the box but The Shrews defence remained strong and averted any danger.
Patrick Bauer was given a yellow card for brining down Jon Nolan as he was driving towards goal, however Whalley’s free kick delivery into the box was cleared for a corner, which resulted in nothing as Charlton cleared their lines.
Town were pilling heavy pressure on the Charlton back line. Some individual brilliance from Nolan nearly broke the deadlock for Town as the midfielder tricked his way into space and shot a hard low ball towards goal but the shot fizzed just wide of the post.
Carlton Morris finally broke the deadlock in the 58th minute. Whalley slipped in a defence splitting pass to Morris and the striker smashed home the ball low in the bottom right hand corner, giving Amos no chance and Town the lead.
Charlton had their first real chance of the half later on. Josh Magennis got on the end of a driven cross but Omar Beckles did well to get in front of the shot he cleared the ball clear well out of danger.
Bryn Morris was given a yellow card in the 79th minute for bringing down the advancing Magennis as the striker looked to run towards the Town goal.
Henderson made a good save in the 81st minute that surely kept Town in the lead. Jake Foster-Caskey dispatched a hard shot from outside the box and Henderson who had the sun in his eyes parried the ball away.
Jon Nolan was booked for a challenge on Charlton midfielder Ezri Konsa with only six minutes to go.
The game came to an end and Town came out of the two legs victorious. Town’s next game will be the Play-Off final at Wembley.