Goals from Thompson, Edwards and Walker see Town progress to the next round of the Leasing.com Trophy
Town: Joe Murphy, Scott Golbourne, Dave Edwards, Ro-Shaun Williams, Shaun Whalley, Fejiri Okenabirhie (Lenell John-Lewis, 88), Ryan Giles, Brad Walker, Louis Thompson (Donald Love, 66), Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Josh Laurent.
Subs: Cameron Gregory, Lenell John-Lewis, Donald Love, Luke McCormick, James Rowland, Luke Ward, Jason Cummins.
The Silkmen: Reice Charles-Cook, Fiacre Kelleher, Theo Vassell, James Harris, Joe Ironside, Ben Stephens, Theo Archibald, Miles Welch-Hayes, Connor Kirby, Fraser Horsfall, Emmanuel Cameron.
Subs: Owen Evans, Arthur Gnahoua, Jacob Blythe, Brice Ntambwe, David Fitzpatrick, Michael Rose, Nathan Cameron.
Referee: Peter Wright
Assistants: Hristo Araivanov and Aiix Pashley
Fourth official: Christopher Husnband
Attendance: 1065 (41)
Shrewsbury Town came into the fixture with Macclesfield Town looking to secure the win that would secure a spot in the Leasing.Com Trophy round of 32.
Dave Edwards, Brad Walker and Louis Thompson were the trio on hand to give their team the win against Sky Bet League Two Macclesfield Town.
First Half:
The third game of Town’s Leasing.Com Trophy campaign got underway with both teams looking to secure the win. Sky Bet League Two Macclesfield Town came into the tie looking to upset the odds and continually looked to attack the Town back line.
The bulk of the game was being played in the Silkmen’s half, with Town possessing most of the ball. Town’s wing play proved to be a problem for the away side, as Shaun Whalley and Ryan Giles both caused problems on the flanks.
Whalley’s persistence nearly paid off as the clock ticked towards 20-minute mark. The winger found himself in a great position to cross on the right wing, but saw his powerful driven pass deflected narrowly over the bar.
Town finally broke the deadlock in the 29th minute through Louis Thompson. A move originating from a Ro-Shaun Williams interception saw his side break on the counter-attack. A great cross from Giles from the left wing glided towards Thompson, and the centre-midfielder struck a outside of the boot volley to find the back of the net for the Shrews.
The half came to an end with the Shrews in the lead. A tightly contested half saw both teams attempt to progress into each of the final thirds, but it was Town who went into the break with the advantage.
Second Half:
Macclesfield Town midfielder James Harris was booked with less than 10 minutes on the second-half clock for foul on Fejiri Okenabirhie.
Town were the team very much in the ascendance when the game resumed for the second-half. Dave Edwards came inches away from doubling the lead for his team early, on. His half volley from just inside the box found it’s way through the Silkmen defence but narrowly missed the target.
Despite good pressure from the Shrews, it was the away side who managed to notch a goal. Theo Archibald managed to curve a good effort into the corner of the net from close range – giving Joe Murphy no chance.
With his first action of the game, Donald Love was given a yellow card for a foul on the edge of the box.
Edwards’ second chance of the game came in the 73rd minute, and the midfielder didn’t need another invitation. The midfielder got on the end of Whalley’s cross and struck the ball into the far side of the net – putting his team back in the lead.
Love was shown a second yellow card shortly after Town’s goal. The defender was booked for a confrontation with Theo Vassell after the defender made a poor challenge on the Town man.
Macclesfield number 14, Connor Kirby was also booked in the latter stages of the game for a foul in the final-third.
Brad Walker was the man for Town who stepped up to take the free kick. The midfielder struck a knuckleball style shot, which found the top corner of the Silkmen net – putting Town two goals ahead.
The game came to an end with the Shrews securing their spot in the Leasing.Com round of 32.