League One play-off semi-final first leg: Charlton 0 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report and pictures

Jon Nolan’s late rocket earned Shrewsbury Town a League One play-off semi-final advantage in an absorbing first-leg at The Valley, writes Lewis Cox.

Town’s player of the season lashed in a half-volley right into the top corner with 10 minutes remaining to send 777 Town fans into ecstacy and silence the hosts.

League One’s third-placed team take the one-goal lead to Montgomery Waters Meadow on Sunday and deserved the lead on the balance of play.

Both sides shared opportunities but Town saw more of the ball and grew in confidence as the evening went on.

The blue and amber army were left chanting on the way back up the M1 with dreams of a Wembley play-off final this month.

Carlton Morris got the nod over top scorer Stefan Payne for the lone forward role while Hurst reverted to the familiar four-man defence and five-man midfield that has served Town so well this season.

Bowyer’s Addicks were without the influential Tariqe Fosu, who was only fit enough for the bench.

The hosts had won six of the Bowyer’s 10 games in charge to see out the season and went into the double-legged tie in good form.

Town, who had the cushion in third and were able to rest key first-team players for the last four games of the season, were hoping for a better outcome than the League Two ties with Torquay in 2011, their previous play-off clashes.

Salop have enjoyed some glorious play-off success in their time. The Conference season penalty shootout drama against Aldershot at Stoke in 2004 and the MK Dons semi-final success of 2007.

Hurst men were keen to return to the defensive form of the early part of the campaign. They had kept just one shutout in nine ahead of The Valley clash.

The atmosphere was a vibrant one as things got started. Town’s away following, which filled most of the bottom tier behind the goal, did their all to back the visitors but that were understandably drowned out.

Bowyer’s men went for the throat from the off. Stephy Mavididi’s left-sided cross fizzed across the box shortly before powerful frontman Josh Magennis climbed to power a header inches wide.

Dean Henderson then kept his side level with a fine fingertip save to push Jake Forster-Caskey’s low strike round the post. It was a start akin to Town’s 2-0 win in February, where the hosts dominated.

Shrewsbury’s first proper threat came from an Addicks corner. Carlton Morris cleared, Bryn Morris helped it to Nolan who burst away. The midfielder skillfully cut inside a defender in the box before his effort was deflected wide.

C Morris powered a diving header from the resulting corner at Amos.

Hurst’s men worked their way into the clash and started to look the better side. Shaun Whalley teed one up for Bryn Morris 25 yards out to the right and the midfielder drew a fine Amos save with his curled effort.

Forster-Caskey’s delivery, in open play and from set-pieces, was causing Town trouble and Magennis again header wide from another free-kick shortly before the break.

The first half remained goalless and Hurst would have been pleased with how his side moved with the ball, but the Addicks were looking dangerous.

The second period did not begin with the same gusto as the first. Town found themselves in dangerous positions, at times as they broke from a Charlton attack, but struggled with the final ball.

A stunning atmosphere was building at The Valley. There was little for either set of fans to get excited out directly in front of goal but the visitors began to ask questions after the hour.

Alex Rodman nodded down at the far post for Amos to claim but Town kept coming. The wingers sent in balls from wide from open play and set-pieces but Charlton, for the most defended well. Town’s final ball could have been better.

Nolan lifted a curled effort wide at the far post from Whalley’s short free-kick midway through second half.

Rodman was just unable to pick out Nolan following a storming run through midfield before the hosts responded through Forster-Caskey’s free-kick at Henderson and Ben Reeves’ rising half-volley over the top.

Hurst first move from the bench was to send on top scorer Payne for the impressive C Morris.

Payne made a telling impact. His header set up Nolan who stole the show with a hammer of a right-foot strike into the top corner off the angle of post and bar.

Then came the Addicks onslaught. Henderson saved Magennis’ header but Town, backed by their superb fans who made non-stop noise all night, saw it over the line and out.

Teams

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2):

Subs not used: Phillips (gk), Marshall, Sarr, Zyro, Dijksteel.

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler ©, Beckles; Godfrey; Whalley (Riley, 89), Nolan (John-Lewis, 90+3), B Morris, Rodman; C Morris (Payne, 75).

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Lowe, Jones, Eisa.

Referee: Simon Hooper

Attendance: 14,367 (777 Shrewsbury fans)