Analysis: Godden Bennett! It’s a low blow for Shrewsbury Town

A victory over this impressive Peterborough outfit, who should target automatic promotion this season, would have really unleashed the Sam Ricketts era.

Instead, frustratingly, the new boss is still in search of his first league win. It was a real kick in the teeth.

It was perfectly set up for Ricketts’ first win, in front of the home supporters for the first time in League One as Town chief.

Town went toe-to-toe with Steve Evans’ assortment of talented players and stood up to the task. It was a fixture, on paper, that you’d have taken a point from ahead of kick-off.

Football is a cruel game but fractions are the difference between one point and three. Shrewsbury deserve a lot of praise from Saturday’s display but, instead, they came out of it kicking themselves.

Town players were unhappy with the decision to award a corner in added time and, instead of setting up to defend it, argued with the officials and were made to pay.

It sounds so basic and so sloppy but it was the difference between a victory and a draw.

Steve Evans’ visitors reacted, sending in the ball, winning the penalty box scramble and tucking in a finish via Steve Arnold’s palms.

For 30 minutes before that heartache, there was a snapshot of what Ricketts’ Shrewsbury could be all about.

In what was an open, entertaining spectacle, Posh looked to have crumbled after Fejiri Okenabirhie’s moment of brilliance on the hour.

What a player this young striker is proving to be. His stunningly executed finish – showing ice-cool composure lower than the temperature inside a freezing Montgomery Waters Meadow – means he has netted in five straight League One games.

His record, and this goal from the most acute angle, is sure to be turning heads. His turnaround since October, and actually starting games, has been staggering.

The goal woke up the Meadow on a bitterly cold afternoon that, unfortunately, meant plenty of supporters decided to stay away. They missed a treat. It was one of those afternoons that the flood lights were needed before kick-off.

Any latecomers missed the first moment of class as a man head and shoulders above the rest again stamped his marker on things.

Greg Docherty looks, simply, too good for League One. He was offered too much space in midfield and thumped in low from 22 yards, though Aaron Chapman in goal would’ve liked to have got down quicker on the greasy surface.

Steven Gerrard and Rangers are taking note of Docherty’s ever-increasing tremendous performances. The 22-year-old has seven goals from midfield and, at times, is playing at a different level.

Peterborough weren’t behind for long and while Marcus Maddison’s cross for Matt Godden was delightfully delivered, Shrews had chance to clear before that point.

Both sides had chances thereafter in a watchable encounter but Ricketts wanted far more from his men physically when competing for second balls.

Town gave that after the break and were comfortably better than Peterborough, who had lost just once on their travels previously and were unbeaten in nine.

All Posh had mustered after the break before Okenabirhie’s moment of class was a Colin Daniel 30-yard strike from left-back that whistled wide of the upright.

The home side were on top but the second goal woke up Evans’ promotion hopefuls.

And while the late, late equaliser felt like a dagger to Salop hearts, Peterborough would have been back on level terms far sooner had Godden not inexplicably hit the bar from three yards out midway through the second period.

Town defended well and battled manfully at 2-1. They competed for every first and second ball in all departments and limited the visitors to fairly little.

At the heart of most of their blocks and clearances was Mat Sadler, fitting as the defender made his 200th Shrewsbury appearance and 500th of his career.

The experienced defender was perfectly positioned to clear cross after cross. He reads the game superbly.

But Sadler and the rest of Town’s players will look back on Bennett’s goal two minutes into five added on with disappointment.

Ricketts felt a decision to award a corner by referee Michael Salisbury was highly, highly debatable – but Salop debated too much and it cost them.

While still mouthing off at the official, Posh got on with it and sent in a quick corner before a penalty box scramble and converted.

There is years of experience in Town’s side and those kind of lapses should not be happening, as Ricketts was at pains to discuss afterwards.

There was a snapshot of Shrewsbury’s new era under Ricketts with intense energy levels and a real hunger to compete against a very good side.

Town weren’t at their attacking best but still scored twice and could have had more. Positives aplenty but the one main negative was the surrender of a victory.

Ricketts would like to be talking about positives with three points under his belt and is absolutely spot on that Town will not get where they aim to be while shipping sloppy goals.

The League One standings are still tight as Salop remain four points off the top half ahead of a hectic period. A home clash with Coventry, trip to Accrington, then Sunderland, before Fleetwood come to Shropshire on January 1.

Points are the essence but displays like this prove Shrews are heading in the right direction.