Sixer’s Shrewsbury Soapbox: Success in Salop

 

John McCormick writes: It’s only 70-80 miles from home to the New Meadow but three trains meant for a time-consuming journey.  I left home about 9.30 in the morning and got back about 9.30 that evening. In between I had some long waits, a bus ride, a long walk, some excellent beer in excellent company, a very decent pork pie and a mediocre burger that did not live up to its billing.
And, let’s not forget, a football game that lived up to the cliché of having two halves. Pete Sixsmith takes up the story:

There can be few better examples of the English provincial town than Shrewsbury. Situated alongside the glorious River Severn with the “blue remembered hills” of Houseman’s poem in the background, it’s a real gem with an English Bridge, a Grope Lane and streets named after Darwin and Telford, both residents at some time.

  Alas, there was no Ingrams Close or Rushton Way, no Ravenscroft Avenue or Reardon Crescent in honour of some of the famous alumni of the public school.

I took refreshments at the splendid Nags Head on Wyle Cop, where John McCormick, oft of this parish, joined me for a pint of Three Tuns XXX, a pork pie and a pint of Hobson’s 3.8 (a good choice) and we were in turn joined by Messrs Marshall, Chapman and Woodward before we moved on to The Prince of Wales. This was a real community pub, situated in a residential street, and was full of older Sunderland and Shrewsbury fans who appreciated the fine beers on sale and the general ambience of the kind of place that is dying out.

It had two rooms, one a basic bar with some fascinating Shrewsbury Town memorabilia on the walls, the other a smarter lounge (it had a carpet on the floor) and more excellent ale. My tipple here was a fine Mild from Hobson’s, one of those splendid Shropshire breweries that have been on the scene for quite a while now (see Salopian and Woods).
John Mac’s view from the half way line

There was a coach to take us to the well-appointed New Meadow (now named The Montgomery Waters New Meadow after a local bottled water supplier and nothing to do with Jimmy) where we arrived just in time to take our seats for the start of the game. The 1700 Sunderland supporters took up one end of the ground and I dare say that there were a few more scattered throughout the other 8,000 that make up the ground. Isn’t that right, John McCormick?

The less said about the first half, the better. We started off well and forced the pace but after the first few minutes, it turned into an arm wrestle with a well organised but limited home side having the better of the game.

We were weak in midfield, a situation that was not helped by a needless booking for Lee Cattermole, and Town took advantage. They were particularly strong from set pieces. Waterfall headed over the bar, Whalley hit it and Omar Beckles should have scored but put it wide. More of him later.

The narrow pitch did not help either Maguire or McGeady, with the latter being particularly effective at running into trouble and not finding the space to beat his man. Consequently, Maja and Sinclair were given poor service as McGeouch and Maguire could not find that telling pass and Maja in particular was anonymous.

There were mutterings in the Salop sun at half time and it soon became clear that Ross and his staff had an alternative to the narrow 4-4-2 we were playing as within twelve minutes, Maja and McGeady had been replaced by Gooch and Honeyman.

Both brought energy to the team and Gooch in particular caused all kinds of problems for a tiring Shrewsbury side. The first goal came from an excellent cross by the returning American which Omar Beckles managed to turn into his own net as he tried to clear it. That settled any nerves and with Gooch showing a willingness to run at defenders that had not been seen from McGeady, we began to look comfortable.

They threw on an extra striker but Baldwin and Flanagan had settled and provided a solid barrier in front of the always accomplished McLaughlin.

With eight minutes to go and the man banging the drum in the Shrewsbury corner beginning to flag, Jack Ross made another important decision. Off came the hard-working Jerome Sinclair and on came Luke O’Nien, a peripheral figure so far who was maybe regretting leaving Wycombe for Sunderland.

Within two minutes of his entry, those worries were well on their way to being dispelled when he rounded off an excellent move by scoring the second goal. Matthews played it to Maguire who played it to Gooch who made a quick 1-2 with O’Nien and that was game over as he slotted it past Coleman in the Town goal.

Cue for a handful of Shrewsbury fans to snarl at the Sunderland support before going home for an early tea and cue for smiles on our terrace at another important step on the way to rehabilitation.

 

Pete Sixsmith

It was by no means a classic, but it was a win and an important one as Barnsley and Peterborough lost and Doncaster scraped a point. This game was won by the manager who made effective substitutions at the right time and who saw his decisions vindicated when Gooch and Honeyman grabbed hold of the game and turned it our way. He has one of those dilemmas that all managers love in that he now has to choose a team for the next game from a squad of players who all look highly competent at this level.

The journey home was a pleasant one with fellow passengers chuckling away at the sight of the Premier League table and perhaps looking forward to a resumption of Wear-Tyne derbies next season.

There’s a long way to go before that happens but we could take another giant step towards it by collecting all three points at The Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ha’way the Lads………


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6 thoughts on “Sixer’s Shrewsbury Soapbox: Success in Salop”

  1. Another fine report, Pete. What I like is that there is a lot of calmness and confidence around both the team and the fans. Despite not playing well for the first 60 mins, it just seemed we would get better.
    I’m not sure what our best side is , as injuries and suspensions have disrupted the season. But, Ross seems pretty adept at responding tactically when we are in arrears. I would like us to take the impetus from the start and dominate teams , perhaps at Plymouth?

  2. I think it is rare for a manager to significantly improve a performance with virtually every tactical substitution. Congratulations to Stewart Donald for the best recruitment decision of Jack Ross.

  3. And now I’ve been able to watch the highlights package all becomes clear. I’d forgotten that Gooch, Honeyman and McGeouch had been working the goal from a corner which explains Flanagan’s presence in the box for the opener.

  4. I spent the morning and the early afternoon on a boat trip part way around the island of Rhodes with a beer stop halfway, before getting back to the hotel to watch the 5 o’clock kick off on my tablet. One camera, no commentary but a reasonable stream for my £5.99. I thought we looked comfortable 1st half and more likely to score and less likely to concede but that said I still don’t know why the whistle went when they hit the bar then skied it over so they might have spurned a golden opportunity.

    First I assumed offside but the way players were patting their torsos I suppose it could have been handball. Ours didn’t seem overly concerned though.

    The picture was losing focus when the camera panned and I thought Gooch had scored the first but having seen the replay today I can see he was crossing the ball into the 6 yard box. Credit Flanagan I think it was, for putting pressure on the defence but was it him so far upfield?

    Glad O’Nien got on the scoresheet. Thought he spoke well post match too and despite not getting regular starts seems another who has bought into the squad game mentality.

    A good three points. I’m hoping to catch the second half of Tuesday’s game. It’ll be no walk over and a point would be acceptable, a win brilliant and a defeat no disaster.

  5. We did seem to labour a wee bit in the first half

    But, watching the game on SAFC’s official stream it definitely looked like the Shrewsbury management team had narrowed the pitch. Fortunately for us Jack the lad has the nous and tactical knowhow to make telling substitutions and alter tactics, it been a while since we had a manager that could do this. He is beginning to look like a very sound acquisition.

    By the way I am immensely jealous of all the pre and post match quaffing of quality ales going on its the one thing about back home that I really miss. Can’t get a decent pint outside the UK……Belgium excepted.

    Doncaster has some canny ales for you to look forward to, my favorite…..Idle Valley Brewery ales, says it all really.

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