Shrewsbury Town earn a 3-2 win over Rochdale
Town: Steve Arnold, Josh Emmanuel, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Greg Docherty, Fejiri Okenabirhie (Abo Eisa, 90), Aaron Amadi-Holloway (Lenell John-Lewis, 84), Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant.
Subs: Joel Coleman, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead, Abo Eisa, Charlie Colkett, Ryan Sears.
Dale: Magnus Norman, Joe Rafferty, Ryan Delaney, Harrison McGahey, Stephan Dooley, Calvin Andrew, Callum Camps, Jordan Williams (Aaron Wilbraham, 79), Brad Inman (David Perkins, 68), Sam Hart (Matt Done, 79), Ian Henderson.
Subs: Josh Lillis, Jimmy McNulty, MJ Williams, Oliver Rathbone, Matt Done, David Perkins, Aaron Willbraham.
Referee: Lee Swabey
Assistants: Wade Smith and Thomas Harty
Fourth official: Christopher Sarginson
Attendance: 5861 (340)
Shrewsbury Town won all three points this afternoon with a 3-2 win over Rochdale.
Ollie Norburn and Fejiri Okenabirhie were the pair on hand to give Town the goals, which earned their side all three points.
Team News: Danny Coyne has named a more familiar starting 11 to face Rochdale. He makes zero changes to the team that faced Salford in the FA Cup first round.
First Half:
The first 20 minutes of the half turned out to be quite an even affair. Both sides were looking to progress up the danger end of the pitch at any given chance. Town and the visitors had a number of half-chances but nothing clear-cut.
Callum Camps was booked in the 30th minute for pulling down Josh Laurent in the middle of the park.
Shortly after that foul, Town were fouled again - but this time it was in the visitors box, as Sam Hart brought down Fejiri Okenabirhie from behind. Ollie Norburn was the player who put the ball down on the spot, and the midfielder tucked away his penalty into the bottom left corner to give Town the lead.
The Dale had their own chance to put the ball into the net just after the 38th minute through Jordan Williams. The forward latched onto a driven cross, but Luke Waterfall did enough to put his man off and the ball ballooned over the bar.
After a good passing move the visitors managed to pull a goal back. Brad Inman was the recipient of a good pass, which saw him through on goal and the striker curled the ball into the goal - to bring the score level on the stroke of half-time.
Both sides went into the break level on the score sheet. Town did well to take the lead after an impressive first period, but the visitors managed to pull a goal back minutes before the whistle.
Second Half:
Steve Arnold was called into action early on as the visitors were pushing forward after the break. A deflected ball could have seen Ian Henderson through on goal, but Arnold’s quick reactions saw him scoop up the ball and avert any danger.
After a period of pressure the Dale managed to take the lead through Jordan Williams in 58th minute. The Dale player was dealt some good fortune when the ball fell to him on the box. Still with a lot to do, Williams lashed a driven shot into the back of the net from just inside the box.
Town were pushing to find an equaliser and came close to finding it in the 65th minute. Norburn did well to dribble into space, but his long-range effort was well saved by Magnus Norman.
Just a minute later Town found that equaliser through Okenabirhie. Laurent slipped a wonderful ball through the Dale back line and Okenabirhie smartly finished into the corner of the net for his first League One goal – making the score 2-2.
After sustained pressure Town took the lead through Norburn in the 71st minute. The midfielder played smart one-two with Aaron Amadi-Holloway, which gave him half a yard of space. The midfielder let off a powerful shot, which deflected into the Dale goal.
The next 10 minutes saw the visitors pushing hard towards Town’s final third. The Shrews defence was being tested but remained firm despite the barrage of attacks.
The game came to an end with Town on the right side of the 3-2 score-line.