Town earn a 1-0 victory against 10 men Accrington Stanley.
Town: Joel Coleman, Josh Emmanuel, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley, Lee Angol, Alex Gilliead, Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent, Ollie Norburn, Anthony Grant (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 60).
Subs: Steve Arnold, Kieran Kennedy, Greg Docherty, Fejiri Okenabirhie, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis, Ryan Barnett.
Stanley: Connor Ripley, Callum Johnson (Offrande Zanzala, 66), Mark Hughes, Michael Ihiekwe, Jordan Clark, Scott Brown, Sean McConville, Sam Finley (Jonny Maxted, 15), Nick Anderton, Daniel Barlaser, Billy Kee.
Subs: Jonny Maxted, Ben Richard-Everton, Liam Nolan, Offrande Zanzala, Connor Hall, Rosss Sykes, Piero Mingoia.
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Assistants: Mark Jones and Adrian Waters
Fourth official: Daniel Middleton
Attendance: 5353 (240)
Shrewsbury Town got their second league win of the season with a victory over Accrington Stanley.
Alex Gilliead put Town in the lead against 10 men Stanley in the 62nd minute, which proved a fatal goal for the visitors.
Team News: Town make one change to the starting line-up that will face today’s visitors Accrington Stanley. Josh Laurent starts in the middle of the park and Kieran Kennedy features on the bench ahead of the injured Aaron Amadi-Holloway.
First-Half:
The first 10 minutes started similar to many previous Town fixtures, with both teams battling it out in the middle of the park to retain possession. Anthony Grant and Josh Laurent were doing well to physically impose them selves on the game.
In the 15th minute Stanley keeper Connor Ripley was shown a red card by referee Andy Woolmer. The keeper rushed from his line towards the on-coming Lee Angol, missing the ball and flattening Town’s striker – denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
The subsequent free kick was blocked well by the Stanley wall and Angol’s volley just went wide of the mark.
After the red card Town were the team in the ascendancy. Grant was doing well to spray the ball around the pitch, creating chances for Askey’s men. Alex Gilliead and Shaun Whalley were also being a constant threat to the visitor’s fullbacks, but Town couldn’t break the deadlock.
Town had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the latter stages of the half. Whalley delivered in a lovely driven cross into the box, but neither Angol nor Laurent could get a solid connection to knock the ball into the net.
Both sides went into the half-time break equal on the score-sheet. Stanley did well to stifle Town’s attacks, leaving Askey’s men resorting to long-range efforts.
Second-Half:
Town came out of the starting blocks with attacking intent. A lovely counter-attacking move started by Josh Laurent nearly saw Gilliead take an early lead for Town. A good block from Stanley saw the ball fall to Ollie Norburn, but the midfielder’s effort whispered past the post.
Former Town player Jordan Clark was shown a yellow card in the 53rd minute for a late challenge on Norburn in the middle of the park.
Grant was also given a yellow card shortly after for pulling down the Reds number eight Scott Brown.
Town finally broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute through Gilliead, after pilling consistent pressure on the Reds defence. A perfect crossed delivery from Whalley found the midfielder at the back post and Gilliead headed the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal, giving Jonny Maxted no chance.
Michael Ihiekwe was booked for the Reds in the 70th minute. Norburn lofted a good through ball towards Okenabirhie, but the Reds defender fouled the forward as he looked to break towards goal.
Whalley was also booked shortly after for stopping the Reds from counter-attacking.
Town were very much the side in the driving seat as the game neared the final 10 minutes. Whalley and Okenabirhie were working well together to trouble the Stanley defence.
Whalley was inches away from putting the tie to bed in the 86th minute. Whalley broke down the right flank and let off a shot towards Maxted, the winger’s effort beat the keeper but narrowly went the wrong side of the woodwork.
Sean McConville was shown a yellow card towards the end of the half for simulation in the Town box.
The game ended 1-0 on the score sheet as Town earn a victory at home against Accrington Stanley.