

Our young inspirational reporter and massive Shrewsbury Town fan Corbin gives us his thoughts on Sunday’s amazing result against Liverpool.

“The day had finally arrived our club “little olde Shrewsbury mixing it with the European and World Club Champions Liverpool, a game on paper where the odds were stacked against us before a ball was kicked but its 11 v 11 and on the day could the Magic of The FA Cup spring a surprise??”
“As we made our way to the ground I said I fancy a 2-1 win, my Dad more cautiously said a draw maybe 1-1 or 2-2 if we could score. Outside the ground I had my picture took alongside the Liverpool team coach and we entered the ground at 4:25pm, the noise was already there as fans singing Salop Salop during the warm ups. That is almost unheard of!”
“I saw all the Liverpool players warming up close by an advantage of being in Block 18, saw Jurgen Klopp hands in pockets watching both teams train. Rumour before the game was Liverpool would field a weakened team but their line up still had some first teamers and internationals, Matip and Lovren at the back, Adrian in goal, also Fabiniho and Origi with Mo Salah, Frimino, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arnold on the bench.”
“Shrews went with O’Leary in goal, Whalley and Lang lead the attack with Josh Laurent. We shaped up 3-4-3 with Love and Golbourne as wing backs, the back three picks itself and Captain Norburn alongside Goss. By kick off time the ground was bursting full and the noise levels increased.”
“Liverpool pushed us back and during the first 15 minutes they were very dominate and they took the lead, their hero from round three Jones burst through our lines before beating O’Leary for m 1-0 to Liverpool. We didn’t feel sorry for ourselves or let our heads drop and we started to take the game to Liverpool, Josh Laurent with his closing down which spread amongst the team as our cofidence was growing. Then Whalley beat the offside trap to go one on one with the keeper, only for Adrian to save with his legs. Norburn went off injured to be replaced by Dave Edwards and it didn’t seem to faze us as Liverpool sat on there lead without causing us any problems as the half wore on. Whalley went through again with a through ball from the impressive Lang only to drag his shot wide, then Pierre’s chance was saved by Adrian. The ref blew his whistle for half time and we all cheered the players off, we had played well despite losing 1-0.”
“Second half started and barely 30 seconds into it with many fans still taking their seats a cross from the right by Liverpool and Donald Love passed the ball into his own net under little pressure, disaster!! 2-0 down and the atmosphere dropped with many stunned by the own goal and so quickly after the restart but we saw our players beefing everyone up. Most players who score own goals in big games hold their heads in shame, Love didn’t he just got on with it and that shows the professional attitude Ricketts has put into these players. Once again there was a slight lull in the ground as we all grew concerned but the fans started singing louder and louder, the 12th man.Come on Shrews make us proud if we got a goal then you never know. Josh Laurent was grabbing the game by scruff of the neck, closing down balls, winning tackles and lung bursting runs as he looked mostly likely to score. He got a chance on 52 mins only to drag his shot wide, then Golbourne with a cross field switch to Lang who beat the offside trap from the right bearing down on Adrian but his goal bound shot was tipped around the post for a corner. From the corner Ebanks Landell screwed his shot wide.”
“Lang was replaced by Cummings and some fans booed thinking its a one off game we are 2-0 down, an extra attacker might have helped to get us a goal. Laurent closing down again caused chaos but he shot wide, but 5 minutes later from a lung bursting run Laurent was fouled it looked like it was in the box and after a little delay the ref pointed to the spot. Cummings put the ball down and sent the keeper the wrong way. The ground erupted we had scored!! We were back in it, belief grew in the team and the fans ,could we win? Could we do another Stoke against the might of Liverpool??”
“Klopp called for one of his stars Oxlade-Chamberlain was on and within 2 minutes his shot was charged down. Just a minute later Origi smashed it towards goal only for Max to claw it out and jump on the rebound, his kick down field towards Whalley was picked up by Cummings. His run forward against two Liverpool defenders got him through into the box and he slotted it into the near post. The place erupted with cheering, crying, screaming and carnage around the ground as everyone celebrated the equaliser.”
“Klopp sent on Mo Salah for Matip, he seriously wanted to win this. Moments later Origi smashed one in the side netting, Firmino came on with 5 minutes to go and Udoh replaced Whalley. Liverpool went in search for a winner as Frimino found some space but O’Leary saved from the angle and the loose ball was briliantly blocked by Ro Shaun to deny Jones a second and probably the winner. Then we pushed forward ourselves Love got to the byline and crossed, the ball bounced up hitting Fabinho on the arm. It had to be a second penalty but despite our players protests the referee waved away the claim, would VAR have given it? As we entered the last few minutes the game was starting to stretch and a Firmino crossed for Salah to flick wide with a header, Josh Laurent ran down the right and looked up trying to smash in at the near post forcing Adrian to save it for a corner.”
“Liverpool pressed again but couldn’t find a winner and the final whistle blew to a massive cheer from the home fans, its rare for that to happen after a draw but the way in which it happened who can blame us. There was a pitch invasion as very happy fans ran to our heroes, We had done it! A cup upset of sorts to be 2-0 down at home to the mighty Liverpool, to finish the game with Salah and Frimino on the pitch and get a 2-2 draw is what dreams are made of. My Dad says Its memories like this that will last a lifetime, I am sure I will never ever forget this game!!”

“I went home dreaming of going to the replay at Anfield and listening on the radio that Klopp is going to field a team of kids in the replay due to the Premier League winter break. Tonight was probably our best chance to beat them and we deserved to win so so proud of my team but with the news about the replay maybe we have a better chance, either way we will go and give it another go in a money spinning replay and a real chance of getting into the 5th Round. The magic of The FA Cup has come to Shrewsbury!!”
“My Man Of The Match was a difficult choice, so many candidates the whole team deserves it even Sam Ricketts for his decision making so. I am for first time giving it to two players Josh Laurent he just gets better and better and could have scored, lets hope he is still here on February 1st as we need him firing for rest of season and my other is Jason “Super Sub” Cummings, 5 minutes after coming on scores penalty 10 mins later makes it 2-2. He was a nuisiance to Liverpools back line and had the handball been given for a penalty he would have likely scored a 25 min hat trick.”
“Next up for the Town is Gillingham away in the league on Wednesday (too far for a school night, I won’t be there!) then on Saturday another away trip to Rochdale, see you all there.”
“Love & Peace, Corbin”
Thanks to Corbin for his thoughts on the game against Liverpool.
Corbin Davies
“Going Down The Oteley Road”
https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/