Ethan Ebanks-Landell strike gives Town the win against Peterborough
Town: Joe Murphy, Aaron Pierre, Scott Golbourne, Dave Edwards (Louis Thompson, 64), Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley (Brad Walker, 90), Ollie Norburn, Donald Love, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Josh Laurent, Jason Cummings (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 58).
Subs: Sam Agius, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Ryan Giles, Brad Walker, Luke McCormick, Louis Thompson, Sean Goss.
Posh: Christy Pym, Dan Butler, Mark Beevers, Mo Eisa, Josh Knight, Marcus Maddison (Idris Kanu, 58), Louis Reed, Nathan Thompson (Joe Ward, 84), Rhys Bennett, Ivan Toney, George Boyd (Siriki Dembele, 58).
Subs: Aaron Chapman, Frankie Kent, Siriki Dembele, Frazer Blake-Tracey, Joe Ward, Niall Mason, Idris Kanu.
Referee: Darren Handley
Assistants: Mark Kunliffe and Paul Hobday
Fourth official: Simon Mather
Attendance: 4890 (252)
A resolute and brave performance against an in-form Peterborough United saw Shrewsbury Town secure all three points at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
A first-half goal from Ethan Ebanks-Landell and a penalty save from Joe Murphy ensured Town added another three points to the Sky Bet League one table.
First Half:
Shrewsbury Town’s fixture with Peterborough United got off to a positive start, with the home side looking to force play in the Posh final third. Town were rewarded for their effort with a succession of corners within the first 10 minutes but couldn’t make the pressure count.
Town were faced with a moment of danger in the 25th minute, as the away side were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Marcus Maddison stood over the ball and let off an effort towards the Town net. Fortunately for the home side, the ball rebounded off the Shrews wall and out for a corner – a corner that didn’t trouble Joe Murphy.
It was the home side who were beginning to have success with the ball, particularly on the wings. Donald Love and Shaun Whalley were combining well to ask the away side’s defence questions. Despite managing to fire balls into the box, the Peterborough defence were remaining resolute.
Dave Edwards was gifted a golden chance to put Town in the lead with the clock running down towards the half-time interval. Town’s number four got on the end of a misplaced pass and was bearing down on goal. However, the midfielder was unable to hit the target and struck the ball wide.
In the 42nd minute, Posh forward Ivan Toney was given a yellow card from referee Darren Handley for a foul on Aaron Pierre the defenders’ half.
The referee gave another card just three minutes later, this time for number 16 Rhys Bennett.
Town’s persistence finally paid off just before the half-time whistle with the Shrews notching a late goal. A free kick was stuck into the away sides’ box, and after a goalmouth scramble, Ethan Ebanks-Landell managed to poke home the go-ahead goal for his team.
Second-Half:
The away side were handed a great opportunity to pull back on level terms with just five minutes into the second period, as Darren Handley awarded Posh a penalty due to an Omar Beckles foul. To the joy of the Town faithful, Murphy stepped up and made a great save to keep his side in the lead.
Edwards was given the third yellow card of the game for a foul on Nathan Thompson on the Posh final third.
Both teams were battling hard for the ball in the second period, with the bulk of the action taking place in the middle of the park. Despite Posh looking to force themselves back into the game, the Town midfield did a good job of nullifying the away side’s advances and space was closed down.
Louis Thompson was booked in the 77th minute for dissent.
Despite being the team in the lead, Town were still pushing to add another goal on the score sheet. Whalley continued to be a pain for the Posh back line and persistently looked to advance into the final third to ask questions.
Murphy was given a yellow card in the final moments of the game, as the referee deemed the keeper to have wasted time.
The game came to an end with Town securing a much-deserved win against the visitors, ensuring the three points remained in Shropshire.