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Match Reports

Match Report | Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Bristol Rovers

2 May 2023

Match Reports

Match Report | Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Bristol Rovers

2 May 2023

Luke Leahy marked his 100th appearance in a Town shirt with a goal and a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers in Shrewsbury's final home game of the season.

Leahy made a fairytale start opening the scoring in the third minute after nodding in at the back post from an Elliott Bennett corner.
 
Salop doubled their lead in the 53rd minute when Rob Street picked up a loose ball and drove into the box before tucking the ball into the bottom corner.

The Gas did pull one back in the 70th minute through Josh Coburn, who headed in from close range after Scott Sinclair crossed the ball onto the crossbar but they had to settle for defeat.

Manager Steve Cotterill opted for a 3-4-1-2 system for the visit of Bristol Rovers, with Ryan Bowman and Street leading the line.

After coming off at half-time against Sheffield Wednesday, Saydee was omitted from the matchday squad. Speaking before the game, the manager revealed Saydee didn't feel himself and will assess his fitness ahead of the Lincoln fixture.
 
Carl Winchester sat in the holding midfield role alongside skipper Leahy, who made his 100th appearance in a Town shirt tonight. Killian Phillips played higher in the number 10 role.
 
Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers side set up in a 4-3-3 formation with John Marquis in the centre-forward position. Ryan Loft played on the left, and Josh Coburn occupied the right wing.
 
Town came flying out of the blocks and played beautiful football which reached Bennett, who drove to the by-line.
 
The wing-back slipped in Bowman, who struck a low hard shot but was parried for a corner by Ellery Balcombe.
 
From the resultant corner, Bennett whipped in a dangerous ball to the back post where Leahy was lurking and rose highest to nod in at the back post, topping a memorable day for the skipper.
 
The away side had their first opportunity at goal just before the 20-minute mark.
 
Grant Ward let fly from a distance, but Tom Flanagan was on hand to deflect the ball for a corner.
 
The Gas were looking for a way into the fixture and was awarded a free kick on the edge of the box in the 23rd minute.
 
Sam Finley took the set piece, but his effort was blocked bravely by the Town wall and went for a corner.
 
Town had an opportunity to double their lead five minutes before the interval when Street, used fabulous footwork and strength to get a shot off at Balcombe near post, but his effort only earned a corner.
 
Town looked bright after the restart and doubled their lead within seven minutes.
 
Leahy was the architect, sending a long ball forward which the Rovers backline were not able to deal with.
 
Street capitalised and picked up the loose ball, drove forward using neat footwork to get into the box and calmly tucked away into the bottom corner to put his side 2-0 up.
 
Barton looked to the bench for inspiration in the 56th minute bringing on all five substitutes at once, including Sky Bet League One Player of the Season Aaron Collins.
 
The away side pulled one back in the 70th minute as experienced pro Scott Sinclair teed up the cross from the by-line.
 
The ball clipped off the crossbar and Coburn made a dart for the centre of the box to nod in.
 
The Gas came close to a second five minutes later when Collins slipped in Coburn, but Marko Marosi rushed out and made an outstanding block to deny Coburn and Rovers a second.
 
The away side applied the pressure in the final 10 minutes and came close to pulling level when Luca Hoole headed over the bar from a couple of yards out.
 
However, the Town defence remained resolute in the final moments and saw out the 2-1 win over the Gas to conclude our home fixtures for the 2022/23 season.
 
Teams      
Salop XI:       
Marosi (GK), Leahy (C), Moore, Winchester, Phillips, Bowman, Street (Pyke, 78), Bennett, Dunkley, Shipley, Flanagan
 
Unused subs:      
Burgoyne (GK), Bloxham, Craig, Barlow
 
Bristol Rovers:  
Balcombe (GK), Gordon (MacDonald, 57), Quansah, Finley (C), Ward, Marquis (Evans, 57), Gibson, Loft (Collins, 57), Bogarde (Sinclair, 57), Gibbons (Hoole, 57), Coburn 
 
Unused subs:    
Ward (GK), Connolly 
 
Bookings: Dunkley, Shipley, Winchester, Phillips; Hoole, Collins 
Attendance: 5,949
Away: 748

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