Our young inspirational reporter and massive Shrewsbury Town fan Corbin gives us his thoughts on our home game against Oxford United.
“I started the day being involved in The Shrewsbury Town in the Community “Community Day”. Playing Football with other children at a Shrewsability Session then walking into the ground to have my photo taken with others and the whole team wearing our Shrews 4 All T-Shirts, Omar called me over and I stood with him as we posed for pictures.”
“Back to Block 18 for my seat after some well earned food, just in time for the team walking out as Sam Ricketts kept the same formation of 4-3-3 and the same eleven players as at Bristol Rovers last week a game I missed. Udoh, Lang and Cummings were our front three.”
“We started the game brightly as did Oxford, our visitors winning a corner in first minute which failed to produce and within 5 mins we were bearing down on their goal first Cummings had a shot saved and the rebound fell to Lang who’s shot was blocked then Vela grabbed it but his shot was blocked too. That got the whole crowd going and the noise levels increased with our new look attacking flair which after some recent performances is far more exciting football, none of this hoofball or being too cautious.”
“Cummings again with a half chance which was blocked then just 60 seconds later Udoh got better of his marker and smashed the ball into the floor as he shot at goal with the bounce beating the keeper, the ground erupted 1-0 to the Shrews after 12 mins. The goal seemed to settle us and but for the odd counter attack from Oxford it was almost one way traffic for the next 20 minutes or so with Edwards twice, Vela, Lang and Udoh all having chances either saved, wide or blocked but our forward attack was working and 1-0 soon became 2 as Golbourne who came on for the injured Pierre laid the ball to Lang who bent his shot past the Oxford Keeper following a free kick. We felt like we were in dream land as we were two goals in front for the first time this season and the game was only 30 minutes old, we were dominating a high flying team again.”
“At this point it looked like we would score more than that, it seemed the day we would finally play someone off the pitch and score a few goals in the process but as we all know too well this is little olde Shrewsbury, we have learnt that nothing is ever plain sailing with our team. A dubious decision by the referee Mr Seb Stocksbridge (oh no not him again!) gave a 2nd yellow and a red card to Josh Vela from our view point it looked like just two players colliding, an accident not a yellow card but not in the eyes of yet another poor League 1 referee. We were down to 10 men 2 -0 up with 55 mins plus to play, we seemed to be too good going forward to worry there was more goals in the game but unfortunately none from us.”
“Some split opinions on the decision changing the game but the mentality of the players is going to change as is the shape or formation. Oxford grew in confidence with the extra man but we still went forward searching for more, Lang with a driven shot just over. Five added minutes were given and then disaster their winger wriggled free on our right cut the ball across O’Leary and into the net 2-1 on 48 mins. Half time came and we were 2-1 up and boo’s rang out to the referee for what many thought were his decision making to give fouls and cards against our players but did little to make his popularity rise but not giving Oxford similar but never mind we felt good. Probably the best 45 minute league performance we have seen at home in 2020 with exception of their goal and Vela’s red card.”
“Football is a game of two halves and that was more true in the second half, a half time sub by Sam Ricketts as Cummings came off for Walker, maybe to bolster our midfield but Lang and Udoh both worked in tandem as a front two going forward despite the change we got deeper as Oxford came onto us searching for an equaliser. They dominated us unlike the first half almost like they had turned the tables as shot after shot, corner after corner they had us pinned in nothing would stick for us as we cleared and the ball just kept on coming back. Just 10 minutes into the second period Ricketts made his last change as Lang went off for Donald Love,you could see we were now a back five with three midfielders and Udoh as the lone front man. Oxford made a sub in response and just two minutes after being on he wriggled free on edge of the box out wide dropped his shoulder and whipped the ball in to the opposite top corner. Oxford were level 2-2 with still 30 minutes to play, the referee who was having a quiet second half started giving niggle fouls to Oxford some for very little as we got deeper and deeper.”
“Hoofball had returned to our team as we cleared Oxford kept coming now looking for a winner. Our only real chance of the second half fell to Udoh who burst through one on one with the keeper who kept it out. As the game edged towards the end Oxford grabbed their chance a nothing free kick was played into the box and the man at the far post put it back across goal past the desperate dive of O’Leary. They had done it 2-0 down to 3-2 up in the 88th minute, though we had 10 men the scenes at the away end were similar of two weeks ago when a Tranmere goal very late on caused fans to run onto the pitch. 4 mins of time added on at the end made no difference to us if anything Oxford could have added a 4th goal.”
“So we left another league home game empty handed, today we had it in our hands 2-0 up after 30 minutes and cruising, some fans argue that the red card changed the game but can the referee take the blame for our defeat? Probably not just him but you have to ask did Sam Ricketts hit the panic button at 2-1 ?! A game of two halves it was but my thoughts on the game were we just didn’t do things right at 2-0, the defending at times was average Oxfords first and second goals and even their winner could be down to us as a team, individuals and tactics. We know we have enough to stay up points wise in this highly strange season but todays game was lost on many things.”
“My Man Of The Match Today was Dan Udoh, scored a cracking goal for opener, his hold up play and link up play was brilliant with Lang and Cummings, he scared Oxfords two centre backs’s most of first half and did a decent job as the lone striker in second half. He was unlucky not to score a second and Salop’s third in the second half.”
“As fans we dust ourselves down and go again just the small matter of going to a team top of the table and unbeaten in 14 games, playing their home games at a ground that belongs to someone else. Coventry City at St Andrews, Birmingham City’s ground I will be there as usual, my first ever visit.”
“Love & Peace, Corbin”
Thanks to Corbin for his thoughts on the game against Oxford.
Corbin Davies
“Going Down The Oteley Road”
https://goingdowntheoteleyroad.home.blog/
Going Down The Oteley Road 