Shrewsbury 2 Peterborough 2 - Report and pictures

Defender Rhys Bennett bundled in one minute into added time for the visitors to cancel out Greg Docherty and Fejiri Okenabirhie goals for Salop.

Docherty opened the scoring with a stunner inside 180 seconds but Matt Godden levelled not long after.

An open, entertaining game saw Ricketts’ Town go toe-to-toe with fourth-placed Posh and Okenabirhie’s stunner around the hour - a goal in the fifth straight League One game - almost won it.

The top scorer’s 10th of the season showed ice-cool composure on an icy-cold day at the Meadow, with the bitter conditions keeping many away.

They almost missed a thrilling Shrewsbury win and the late equaliser to make it 2-2 left a feeling of ‘what if?’

But Ricketts will take plenty of heart from his side’s attacking to score twice and then defend manfully until the 91st minute.

Analysis

After defeat in his League One bow as Salop boss at Burton, Ricketts was hoping to get off to the perfect start at the Meadow.

The Welshman remained loyal with the XI that competed well at the Pirelli last weekend - the side that fared so well under newly-appointed first team coaches Danny Coyne and Eric Ramsay.

Despite working his way back to to match fitness with help of Tuesday’s Central League Cup clash with Walsall, Shaun Whalley remained on the bench as Ricketts kept the 4-4-2 diamond system.

Captain and stalwart Mat Sadler made his 200th appearance for the club, the first to do so fully since Town moved to the New Meadow, and first since former defender Kelvin Langmead.

One noticeable addition to the 18 was that of former Peterborough hitman Lee Angol, who burst on to the Football League scene with Posh three years ago.

Ricketts compared Peterborough’s attacking riches to that of Liverpool in the week, with the in-form returning Ivan Toney just one livewire Salop had to contend with.

Widemen Sikiri Dembele and Marcus Maddison pose a real threat with pacy and trickey, the latter ended Town’s 15-match unbeaten start to last season in spectacular style.

Posh took a really impressive away form into the Meadow clash, the second best in the division behind Portsmouth, who are still unbeaten on their travels. But, despite their tendency to score goals, Evans’ men had kept just four clean sheets in 21 games.

Freezing conditions at the Meadow unfortunately caused a number of Town fans to stay away. It was an afternoon for the purist that begged for some on-field excitement to help warm the coggles.

Ricketts’ entry to the technical area was well-received from fans but you could tell the boss wanted it to be about his team.

And what a start they gave him. The visitors left space in the midfield to their peril. Oliver Norburn picked out Docherty 25 yards out and the Scot thumped in from distance leaving Aaron Chapman helpless.

The goalkeeper struggled to get down to the skidded effort that flew off the slick surface. It was the midfielder’s seventh goal of an impressive season so far.

Posh were rattled as the Meadow woke. James Bolton almost converted a Chapman fumble as Ricketts’ men were in control.

Peterborough had shown precious little but were level on 12 minutes. Omar Beckles afforded Maddison half a yard and a delicious low cross was expertly turned in by top scorer Godden.

The equaliser did not deter Town who played the better football in the opening quarter of an entertaining spectacle.

Docherty looked a cut above with some typical bursts forward while Norburn also caught the eye.

The sides began exchanging chances with Maddison becoming influential for Posh. Another on-the-money delivery from the winger is perfect for panto villain Toney but he could only head straight at Steve Arnold.

The visitors began to call the shots and send dangerous balls into the Town box and ask questions of the Salop back four.

Evans’ men had more of the ball and territory but Salop were still a threat. Josh Laurent stung the palms of Chapman from distance before the keeper superbly tipped a stinging Norburn drive round the post.

Town were fairly pleased to hear the half-time whistle, Posh could have changed Ricketts team talk had Toney slipped his side foot finish in but Arnold was equal to it.

Supporters in the south stand safe standing section brought their A-game to the start of the second period as Town attacked the end they were housed.

But there was no repeat of the rapid start to the first half as both sides, surely unhelped by the conditions, kept giving the ball away.

Evans saw enough and hauled off Dembele while Ricketts talked to Whalley ahead of his introduction.

Town survived a real scare as left-back Colin Daniel rattled fractions wide of the upright from 30 yards.

But those who braved the elements were rewarded by a moment of brilliance before the hour.

Docherty’s through ball took a flick off a defender and seemed to favour Chapman but the lightning Okenabirhie beat the shot-stopper to it.

On the left side of the box, he knocked it five yards ahead, resisted the temptation to look for a penalty and somehow slotted into the empty net from the most narrow of left angles. A simply stunning finish.

It was the striker’s 10th goal of the season, meaning he had scored in five straight League One games.

The Meadow woke up - and so did the visitors. Maddison’s 30 yard low drive was dealt with by Arnold.

Then, inexplicably, Godden hit the crossbar from about three yards out. The controversial chance saw Posh break from two handball penalty shouts in their box before right-back Joe Ward squared and Godden somehow found the woodwork.

Suddenly Town had three precious points to defend and Posh cranked up the urgency. The hosts’ work rate also shot up as they defended in packs and won the ball back with real commitment.

Both managers made more subs to try and turn it in their favour but, for Town, it was that man Docherty stealing the show. His energy levels only seemed to increase after each powerful run.

Posh’s defence were shaky and rattled but Town couldn’t quite muster the killer third.

Sub Whalley was also a terror with his fresh legs, he saw a shot blocked and helped lead the charge.

Town and United survived moments of fear as pinball occurred inside their boxes but Salop defended manfully.

A late worry was Whalley going off 15 minutes after being sent on. Another injury for the popular attacker is exactly what Town and Ricketts could do without after just recovering from six weeks out with a calf problem.

Shrewsbury were looking like holding on in a manic finale but there was heartbreak to come.

A quickly-taken corner by Jason Cummings led to a mighty scramble by the penalty spot and it fell for Tafazolli whose close range finish was almost kept out by Arnold but crept in.

There was plenty of added time left and Shrews willfully continued, as did Posh, in a thrilling finish.

Town matched their promotion-fancied visitors and were every bit deserved of the three points but the late heartbreak is bound to sting.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2 diamond):

Arnold; Bolton, Waterfall, Sadler ©, Beckles; Grant, Norburn, Docherty, Laurent (Whalley, 61 (Angol, 76)); Amadi-Holloway (John-Lewis, 71), Okenabirhie.

Subs not used: Coleman (gk), Haynes, Sears, Gilliead.

Peterborough United (4-4-2):

Chapman; Ward, Bennett, Tafazolli, Daniel; Maddison, Woodyard ©, Reed (Walker, 71), Dembele (Cooper, 57); Toney, Godden (Cummings, 77).

Subs not used: O’Malley (gk), Naismith, O’Hara, Stevens.

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Attendance: 5,493 (291 away fans)

Man of the match: Greg Docherty - simply never stops. Brilliant.

Position in the table: 17th (25 points from 22 games)