Our young inspirational reporter and massive Shrewsbury Town fan Corbin is back and gives us his thoughts on our home game against Northampton Town.
“Back at The Meadow for the first time since March, I was really excited that Dad and Me were part of the 1000 fans involved in a trial to get Football Fans back into grounds against newly Promoted Northampton Town.”
“A new season and a chance to see the new players and hope for our season ahead, after listening to the Portsmouth hame last week I was looking forward to Shrewsbury going forward in this new 4-3-3 formation.”
“Shrewsbury started with new signing Sarkic in goal, the four at the back of Golbourne, Williams, Ebanks Landell and Marlon Fossey with his Fellaini hairstyle. A midfield 3 of Brad Walker, Josh Vela and Scott High, a front 3 of Whalley, Cummings and Pyke as the striker.”
“The game kicked off and Ryan Jervis was still announcing the team, a ball pumped up field by Northampton centre back had the visitors forward jump at same time for the ball with Ebanks Landell and there was a nasty clash of heads. The ref stopped the game and the physio’s from both teams ran onto the pitch to aid the injured, the visitors forward was still up on his feet but Ebanks Landell lay on the floor for longer. 5 mins later he was helped off the pitch by the medical team with a bandage on his head. Sam Ricketts made a change moving Walker to centre back and brought another new signing Josh Daniels on to play in the middle three.”
“That very early stoppage and injury seemed to knock the stuffing out of us as we struggled to do anything with the ball and it wasn’t long before Northampton took the lead. The first real chance for either team as Fossey got all tangled up on the left, a low driven cross was smashed in by Mark Marshall and Northampton were 1-0 up in the 12th Minute.”
“All the fans in the ground responded in a positive way shouting and cheering Shrewsbury to get focused and get into the game. The goal perhaps spurned us into life as we started winning the ball in forward areas and were trying to get Cummings, Whalley and Pyke on the ball. Pyke got free in the 6 yard box but former Shrewsbury goalkeeper Steve Arnold stopped the threat for Northampton.”
“Town continued as we started threatening even more looking for equaliser. Cummings cutting inside putting one just wide and a cross from Golbourne with Pyke inches away. Whalley’s turn next as his jinking run cut in from the left his toe poke was saved well from Arnold.”
“As the half time whistle neared Shrewsbury were threatening more and more Whalley again laying it off to Golbourne who smashed it but for Arnold it might have been level. Cummings then with another cut inside with the ball going wide.”
“Half time and plenty to be happy about despite losing, take away the opening 15 minutes and we dominated with the only thing missing a Shrewsbury goal.”
“Second half started as people were taking their seats as Jason Cummings looked to be clean through but the flag saved Northampton with offside given, groans from Blocks 14 and 15 suggested he was onside.”
“Moments later a wonderful cross switch pass from Cummings put Whalley in but his shot was saved by Arnold. A Similar pass got Whalley in again and his right foot shot ended up in the net, us 1000 fans celebrated as Bizzy nearly ran off celebrating before remembering the new rules. Shrewsbury’s equaliser was very deserved. Straight from kick off Whalley was causing problems for Northampton he was cruelly brought down on edge the box, up stepped Brad ‘Ronaldo’ Walker but his free kick attempt just hit the wall and spun away.”
“The goal had given us the belief, myself and the crowd could only see one winner. We were dominating until a moment of madness from our new goalkeeper. A long ball from the Northampton right back looked too long for the forwards and a rushing Sarkic completely missed the ball in his attempt to clear it, the ball fell into the path of Hoskins who passed it into the empty net. My Dad said you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper and it looks like we have another one in Sarkic.”
“We were 2-1 down and it could have been worse moments later but for Sarkic’s superb diving save. The visitors had weathered our storm as they threatened more, Udoh on for Pyke as Town searched for an equaliser. With 10 mins to go Fossey with a back post header just didn’t fall kind for Cummings, Scott High then hit a banger that got charged down and Whalley went close with a header just over.”
“Into the last 5 minutes as we searched for a second goal for the draw, Sam Ricketts made a bizarre sub like many he did last season Love on for Fossey who had grown into the game as it went on. Maybe take a chance and bring Rowland on for a defender but suppose there wasn’t much other options on the bench. But would have been happy losing 3-1 trying than a like for like defensive change.”
“The final whistle blew Northampton had beat us on our big day of returning fans, beating us 2-1 but amazingly we had a lot of the ball nearly 75% of it according to the stats. But stats don’t win football matches goals do and for all our huff and puff we didn’t have that killer touch. But it is early in the season and with the strange end to last season due to the Corona Virus, this was only our third competitive game since March. We have some injuries, a player suspended and the new players need time to settle in. So it wasn’t’ the best result but you can see our style of play, I think we will soon see the goals going in at the right end and our results improving too.”
“The trial for fans was done really well, it was so good to be back and lets hope it isn’t long before more of us are seeing our Blue and Amber team more regular. Brilliant work by everyone involved for getting us in, it was a strange atmosphere with no away fans but felt like a EFL Trophy game to begin with as just the West Stand was used in the trial but as the game went on the noise from just 1000 of us was just like it was before all this virus lockdown and social distancing.”
“My Man of The Match is Shaun Whalley, he is Mr Shrewsbury, our longest serving player and he might be getting older but he is showing he is still a good tricky player. He was involved with a lot of the going forward in a position that he is having to adjust too. Also a shout out to the new boys as Daniels did well in the middle, Scott High and Marlon Fossey grew into the game. I like our keeper Sarkic, he is a bit mad, the mistake was a crazy moment but proved to be a good shot stopper and he will win us more points this season but Whalley gets it as his goal was a cracker that wouldn’t look out of place in any league and he ran non stop.”
“Hope it won’t be long until we return, stay safe everyone.”
Thanks to Corbin for his thoughts on the game against Northampton.
Corbin Davies
“Going Down The Oteley Road”
Going Down The Oteley Road 