Shrewsbury Town Women v Wem Town Ladies Semi Final Match report 27/03/22
Shrewsbury XI:
Phoebe Carter
Vikki Owen
Leanne Rimmer
Milly Potter
Grace Layton
Abbie McShane
Milly Jay
Paris Schofield
Libby Veitch
Maddie Jones
Shannon McShane
Shrewsbury Bench:
Kelly Williams
Jessica Williams
Zoe Child
Mia Pugh
Olivia Minshall
Previously in the season Salop were successful in cup competition knocking Wem out of the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup in a close 3-2 victory.
After strong performances in previous rounds against teams like Dawley and Albrighton, Wem was set to be Town biggest hurdle in the journey to cup success. Going into the game it was expected to be a good battle with Town pushing for promotion and Wem battling hard in their season two league above, both sides would be seen with equal chances of qualifying to the County cup final.
Wem starting off the game strong, controlling possession and putting Shrewsbury on the backfoot. Within the first 10 minutes allot of action would be seen in the Shrewsbury half, strong defensive work preventing Wem from breaking through. Goalkeeper Phoebe carter being kept on her toes and having to make impressive saves to deny strong opportunities. The deadlock would be broken though as a Wem throw in sees one of their places attempting a cross deep into Shrewsbury’s box, amazingly the cross instead finds its way curving neatly into the back post catching Carter off-guard and giving Wem a shock lead in the 9th minute.
Salop would stay on the defence after this having to create any chances through counter attacks of their own, it would be over 20 minutes before the next strong chance came, after another strong defensive performance from the Shrewsbury defenders winning the team back possession. Midfielder Libby Veitch starting the teams counter attack and with a perfectly weighted through ball, finds Maddie Jones who dribbles past an out-rushing goalkeeper to finish into an open net. Equalising in impressive fashion.
Unfortunately, Town wouldn’t have long at an equal score, as a mishit header from a Town player allows a Wem player to be free around the edge of the box, surprisingly the player goes for a volley whilst the ball is around waist height, its hit cleanly and with power as it flies towards the goal out of reach from Carter in goal, re-gaining the lead for Wem just 6 minutes after the equaliser.
HALF-TIME TOWN TRAIL AT THE BREAK BY A LATE GOAL
SHREWSBURY TOWN WOMEN 1-2 WEM TOWN LADIES
A revamped Salop side in the second half sees a change in formation and player positions, and to begin it showed that the team needed to settle into this new style if they were to take control of the match. Unfortunately for Town before they could get settled, remnant of the first goal Wem find themselves wide in the Shrewsbury half and an attempted cross once again catching Carter off-guard as the ball instead curls into the back post, putting Shrewsbury further behind in frustrating fashion for the team.
A demoralised Shrewsbury struggling now to connect any string of play and as attempt after attempt is denied by Wem the prospect of a place in the final looking more and more out of sight. Wem blocking the passing lanes of the Salop strikers who try to split the defence with their runs but nothing connecting for the league leaders this time.
Wem with a free-kick in Towns half is crossed in at the back post, the first header missed by all players but a free Wem player connecting with the second ball, volleying the ball into the top left corner late in the cup game.
With just 10 minutes left to the game and three goals behind Shrewsbury would have to really pick their heads up and battle to the end if they wanted any chance at advancement.
It seems though that instead of losing all passion with the fourth goal going against them, Town instead picking up a new level of momentum, a change to formation again bringing more strikers forward seeming to work for Shrewsbury, chances being created within the Wem half. From the town defence play is built forward before a long through ball is played by Shannon McShane, the ball slips between Wem’s defenders where it finds Maddie Jones who bring back hope to Salop with a thunderous strike, scoring her second goal.
Due to multiple injuries, there was a large amount of injury time added to the second half. Shrewsbury would use every extra minute to the best of their ability controlling most of them. Substitutes Zoe Child and Olivia Minshall playing major roles since coming onto the pitch. Zoe with her electric speed intercepting Wem’s goalkeeper before squaring the pass back to Minshall who narrowly misses the goal. Minutes later another chance created by Town that has Minshall once again given the space for a shot, this time though the keeper collecting the shot.
Before the team can create any more chances, the full-time whistle was blown.
FULL TIME WEM ADVANCE TO THE FINAL IN A 4-2 VICTORY.
GOALSCORERS:
MADDIE JONES x2