Shrewsbury Town 2 Scunthorpe 0 - Report and pictures

Goals from frontmen Stefan Payne and Carlton Morris scythed down stubborn Scunthorpe United as Shrewsbury’s sensational season powered on, writes Lewis Cox at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Stefan Payne of Shrewsbury Town celebrates (AMA)

The Blues won by more than the odd goal for the first time this season as goals either side of half-time were enough to down the resilient Iron - who had only conceded three times in the league before kick-off.

Payne’s 24th minute opener, a scramble after James Bolton’s header was saved, was his sixth of a prolific season, while sub Carlton Morris - vastly impressive after being introduced - notched his third for Town with three minutes to play.

Rivals Wigan kept the pace on Town, winning against Walsall, to ensure the gap remained at four points. Shrewsbury were unbeaten in the third tier or higher for 11 games, the best run since 1975/76.

Analysis

Hurst opted to switch back the four changes he made on Tuesday night at Doncaster with James Bolton, Ben Godfrey, Shaun Whalley and Mat Sadler all returning.

Town fielded the XI that has starred in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Graham Alexander’s visitors came with a couple of surprises, leaving out dangerous midfield Funso Ojo and experienced hitman Paddy Madden.

The Iron had conceded just three league goals in their opening 10 games prior to today’s kick-off.

With Town securing all eight of their league victories by the odd goal, you’d be forgiven for having this down as a cagey, tactical afternoon.

The opening few moments were anything but, with particular emphasis on the visitors - buoyed on by a hardy vocal away following - as dangerman Josh Morris forced a low early saved from Dean Henderson with an angled drive.

Hurst would have been concerned that Iron skipper Rory McArdle won a header from Morris’ corner that Town’s keeper had to palm away.

The hosts were showing some threat of their own, with Whalley facing up against inexperienced left-back Lewis Butroid, who made his league debut just last week.

The silky Jon Nolan slid through a couple of challenges before dragging across goal while skipper Abu Ogogo was unable to profit from intense high pressing.

The clash settled into a fixture containing two well-drilled and organised sides. The Iron’s defensive resilience shining through as the visitors shaded the opening quarter.

Town No.2 Chris Doig told his players to get their act together and they obeyed.

The home side won a corner down their right, not their first, and made it count. Whalley’s delivery was met by Bolton who thundered a header at ex-Town loanee Matt Gilks that the visiting shot-stopper was unable to claim.

Amid a crowd of bodies on the line, the lurking Payne was able to untidily stab home his sixth Shrewsbury goal of the season.

Not that the Town fans cared as their new marksman wheeled away in celebration.

The leaders weren’t having it all their own way. Novak twice threatened from distance and Godfrey and Sadler in particular were on-hand for some fine last ditch interceptions.

The only remaining first-half flashpoint involved handbags. Nolan was booked for a foul on Neal Bishop before the Iron man raised his hand on Payne - Town fans were screaming for a dismissal, but the midfield man was only cautioned.

The second period began a little cagey but Town were soon cursing their luck at the lack of a second after Bolton and co were unable to profit from superb Junior Brown wing-play down the left.

Shrewsbury were holding Scunthorpe at arm’s length, the visitors - fifth in the table before kick-off, were struggling to fashion a clear goalscoring opportunity.

As the clock clicked past 70 minutes both sides passed up fine opportunities.

Payne, in similar fashion to his glorious opportunity while Town were 1-0 against Blackburn the week before, missed a chance to put the game beyond doubt from Rodman’s cut-back. The striker was unmarked six yards out but a stunning McArdle block saved the Iron.

Henderson, Town’s on-loan Manchester United man, then showed his class. He clawed Morris’ trademark stunning free-kick away from the top corner.

Then, from the keeper’s punch, sub Paddy Madden lined up a strike inside the box but out charged Toto Nsiala and Bolton to block superbly - showing extraordinary commitment and work rate.

Scunthorpe’s didn’t lose faith in the search of an equaliser, they weren’t far away as sub Paddy Madden lashed one a foot over the bar with Henderson at full stretch with five minutes remaining.

But moments later Town made the game safe and broke their tradition of getting over the line by just the odd goal.

Supreme work from Ogogo, who enjoyed a sensational second period, won the ball high up from Sam Mantom and through went sub Morris, inside the box, beyond his defender to coolly finish beyond Gilks.

Two goals past a stubborn side who had only conceded three before kick-off - another memorable day amid a fairytale campaign.

Key moments

3 - Big early chance for the visitors as Josh Morris ghosts into space at beyond James Bolton and hits a fierce low drive that is well kept out by Dean Henderson.

5 - Fine run from Nolan who shimmies beyond two but drags it wide across goal.

6 - Town didn’t defend a corner well as Rory McArdle connects with a Morris corner and Henderson is forced to parry away.

12 - Abu Ogogo is unable to profit from winning the ball from Scunthorpe’s centre-back inside the box.

19 - Lee Novak releases a dipping angled volley that finds Henderson’s side netting via a deflection.

24 - GOAL TOWN!! The hosts lead as Bolton powers in a header from Shaun Whalley’s corner, Matt Gilks gets something on it but Stefan Payne prods in his sixth goal of the season from almost on the line.

34 - Tom Hopper has a try from outside the box, this one flies a foot or so over. Henderson looked to have it covered.

35 - Handbags. Nolan booked for a foul on Duane Holmes, Neal Bishop didn’t like it, in stormed Ogogo and Payne. Bishop raised his hand to Payne but got just a yellow. The Meadow crowd were not happy with Bishop and referee Graham Horwood.

51 - Brilliant attack Town initiated by Junior Brown. Beats three men but his low cross slides beyond everyone. James Bolton has a couple of bites at the cherry, the last of which finds the side netting.

55 - McArdle again reaches a Morris corner and heads wide this time.

69 - Payne should make it two. Super play on the left from Brown and Rodman, the latter cuts back for Payne six yards out but McArdle blocks well.

70 - Morris’ 30-yard free-kick is destined for the top corner before Henderson paws it away full-stretch. Then exceptional blocks from Toto Nsiala and Bolton.

85 - Big chance, a knockdown from Scunthorpe’s left-sided cross falls for sub Paddy Madden but the striker fires a foot over with Henderson at full stretch.

87 - GOAL TOWN! They seal it as sub Carlton Morris grabs his third goal for the club by finishing coolly into the corner following unbelievable hard work from Ogogo.

Teams

Shrewsbury (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Bolton, Sadler, Nsiala ©, Brown; Godfrey; Whalley (C Morris, 75), Nolan (Dodds, 80), Ogogo ©, Rodman (John-Lewis, 90+2); Payne

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Adams, Beckles, Gnahoua.

Scunthorpe (4-4-2):

Subs not used: Watson (gk), Crofts, Ojo, Burgess.

Referee: Graham Horwood

Attendance: 5,759 (392 away fans)

Man of the match - Ben Godfrey

Position in the table - FIRST (29 points from 11 games)