Shrewsbury v Walsall – Vitality FA Cup first round replay – 19/09/21
Venue: Community Pitch
Score: 4-1 win for Shrewsbury
This was to be the third straight fixture against Walsall Ladies as last week’s fixture was having to be replayed due to a mistake being made by the officials by playing extra time, so a replay of the game was to be played.
All the pressure going into the game was on Shrewsbury, two strong wins in the last two games against Walsall, Shrewsbury knew to go into this game not expecting an easy games Walsall would come at them with everything they had to advance in the FA Cup.
KICK-OFF
The game begins similarly to the previous two meetings with both teams sharing possession trying to work their way through one another’s defence, this continued for the opening 10 minutes of the game.
It was only when a through ball to the Shrewsbury Forward Maddie Jones was played, that lead to the first chance at goal being taken but the shot is dragged wide of the goal.
Shrewsbury after this chance seem to have become the strong offensive team, the next strong chance developing from a hand-ball from a Walsall player. The free kick is taken quickly by Shrewsbury which leads to Maddie Jones through on goal again, the shot this time is on target but in the direction of the keeper who controls the shot and slows down Shrewsbury’s offensive tempo.
After this chance Walsall appear to have brought the play style back to how it began with either team stopping attacking opportunities at either half.
Just like the start of the game again this play is stopped by a through ball to Maddie Jones who finds herself in a goalscoring opportunity again with just the keeper to beat. This time though she finishes the ball cleanly into the top right corner and easily past the goalkeeper.
Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Walsall Ladies
The Shrewsbury attacks continue past the goal with multiple more opportunities to attack the goal emerging for the blue and amber army but none to any fruition.
Walsall appear to trouble the Shrewsbury defenders in their counter attacks, one of which gives Walsall a free kick from around 40 yards out. The free kick is shot at goal, but the Shrewsbury goalkeeper has time to collect the attempt and distribute quickly to counter attack Walsall, but to no avail.
A misplay from the Shrewsbury midfield leads to a pass back to the defence but it puts the Shrewsbury defender in a precarious situation, the ball is taken by the Walsall attacker and tucked past the goalkeeper cleanly.
Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Walsall Ladies
HALF TIME 1-1
Start of the second half looks to be all Shrewsbury with attacking possession in the Walsall half dominating the opening 5 minutes of the half, this constant pressure leads to a poor tackle in the Walsall box and a penalty going the Shrewsbury way.
Shannon Mcshane steps up to take the penalty, and converts it to give Salop the lead.
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Walsall Ladies
Shrewsbury now dominating possession with all the play taking place in the Walsall half for the succeeding 10 minutes
One display of defending from Walsall sees their goalkeeper coming to the edge of their box to be an extra player to pass too, but as the ball is played out it is picked up by Vikki Owens in the Shrewsbury Midfield, she spots the keeper of her line and tries her luck with a long shot, its excellently weighted to go over the keeper and find its way into the goal.
Shrewsbury Town 3-1 Walsall Ladies
Walsall now just looking to defend as best they can against Shrewsbury’s ongoing attacks, but the pressure seems to be too much as another through ball gets through their defence. The ball leads to Maddie Jones having to dribble from the byline to make space from the defender, from then she tries her luck at the goal again and incredibly tucks the shot past the goalkeeper.
Shrewsbury Town 4-1 Walsall Ladies
For the remainder of the game, it’s a Shrewsbury possession display as they keep the ball and defend when needed excellently to see out to the final whistle.
FULL-TIME Shrewsbury Town 4-1 Walsall Ladies