Blackpool FC 4-4 Shrewsbury Town
There were two changes to the side that drew 2-2 against Walsall last week. Lewis Redding replaces the injured Kian Taylor and Archie Elmore, who scored last week’s equalising goal comes in for Ryan Grosvenor. The last time these two sides met was in October; which saw the game also produce a 2-2 draw, courtesy of two late goals by Lifumpa Mwandwe and Ryan Grosvenor. Town will be looking to earn their first victory under David Longwell, who took charge for the first-time last week.
Shrewsbury made a quick start to the half as Jamaine Turner and Reiss Corfield linked-up nicely but were intercepted, much to their dismay. Sam Kellett was forced to make his first save of the game in the 4th minute when Archie Elmore’s pass found the feet of Lewis Redding, whose effort was heading straight for the goal, eventually finding the hands of the keeper.
Just seconds after Kellett had prevented Shrewsbury from taking the lead, Blackpool opened the scoring through Owen Watkinson. The corner, which was crossed in by Nathan Shaw, found the feet of Harry Winstanley who was able to flick onto Watkinson who volleyed the ball in from the back post and past Jaden Bevan. Jack Leask won a corner for Town, after good work by James Rowland, who managed to keep Town in possession. The resulting free kick was curled in by the captain, but his cross was too high for Lifumpa Mwandwe and The Seasiders managed to clear.
Blackpool nearly doubled their lead two minutes later when Sean Graham found himself in plenty of space in front of Jaden Bevan’s goal, but his shot went flying over the top of the crossbar. Shrewsbury went in desperate search of an equaliser and nearly got it when James Rowland, Jamaine Turner and Reiss Corfield worked together to get the ball up to Kellett’s goal. Unfortunately, the final ball was too close to the goalkeeper who was unable to prevent the corner and Harry Winstanley was able to clear the danger. Jaden Bevan was forced into a save five minutes later when Watkinson and Emil Jaaskelainen linked up well, but their shot was straight at the young goalkeeper.
Shrewsbury found the all-important equaliser five minutes before the end of the first half through Archie Elmore who made the most of the confusion amongst the Blackpool defence and slots the ball into an empty net. The Seasiders started the second half on the front foot; having an opportunity at goal in the opening minutes when Nathan Shaw was able to find Ewan Bange but his shot went straight into the arms of Bevan.
It was the home team who scored the first goal of the second half, and it was a match day double for Owen Watkinson. Jaden Bevan gifted Watkinson with a low ball directly from a goal kick and he calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net past the approaching goalkeeper. But Shrewsbury weren’t behind for long, and it was Archie Elmore who levelled the score line once again after tapping the ball past Sam Kellett. Town took the lead for the first time in the 65th minute and the goal resulted in a hat trick for Archie Elmore after he met the cross from the right and placed the ball past the Blackpool keeper.
Elmore nearly added a fourth after he created a good individual run down the middle of the pitch and then attempted to dribble the ball past Kellett, who then denies him from adding any more goals to the scoresheet. Lifumpa Mwandwe tried to get in on the goal scoring action in the 70thminute and took an ambitious shot which went soaring over the top of the crossbar. Town were only ahead for eight minutes when Nathan Shaw crossed in the corner and Harry Winstanley is in the right place at the right time and heads the ball in from the back post.
The goals just kept coming though, and with seven minutes to go before the end of the match, Blackpool regained their lead through Ewan Bange. Sean Graham made a great run from his own half and played in Bange who took one touch and slipped the ball into Bevan’s goal. Town equalised yet again just three minutes later thanks to substitute Ethan O’Toole. Blackpool lose possession and Shrewsbury were able to create a counter attack and O’Toole was there to slot the ball home and to bring the score line back level. The Seasiders nearly scored a last-minute winner when Hayden Ravenscroft lined up a shot from the edge of the box which saw Bevan take an ever so slight touch to tip the ball onto the post.
Shrewsbury are back in league action again next Saturday when they travel to Rochdale, where they will be in search for all three points.
Team:Jaden Bevan, Reiss Corfield, Dan Walker, James Rowland (c), Tom Davies (Edan Sears 72), Luke Ward, Jamaine Turner (Taylor Townsend 46), Lewis Redding (Ethan O’Toole 80), Archie Elmore, Jack Leask, Lifumpa Mwandwe.
Unused Subs: Reece Thompson, Ryan Grosvenor.