Shrewsbury Town XI: Jess Williams, Vikki Owen, Leanne Rimmer, Grace Layton, Milly Potter, Abbie McShane, Lilly McShane, Shannon McShane, Paris Schofield, Libby Veitch, Maddie Jones
Shrewsbury Subs: Anna France, Brogan Cook, Milly Jay, Zoe Child, Mia Pugh
For Town’s final league fixture of the season, the champions of the league would host the visiting Walsall Wood at Montgomery Waters Meadow. With a crowd of around 500 people it was a great atmosphere to finish of such a successful league campaign for Shrewsbury Town Women.
The opening ten minutes were characteristically even as the two sides figured each other out and acclimatised to the occasion.
Shrewsbury began to show their quality towards the end of this period of play and it only grew as they netted their first goal. Abbie McShane won the ball in the centre circle and played a perfect through-ball to the feet of Maddie Jones. Jones’ first effort was saved but she netted the follow-up for her 33rd of the season.
12 – GOAL Maddie Jones
1-0
Town went close again in the 20th minute when Paris Schofield struck a sweet effort from 20 yards out that clattered the crossbar and fell to Shannon McShane, but she couldn’t keep her effort on target.
Salop did eventually get their second when Libby Veitch picked up the ball in a similar area of the pitch from where Schofield struck her sweet effort. Veitch emulated the strike in almost every way except this one curled beautifully over the Walsall Wood goalkeeper and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
30 – GOAL Libby Veitch
2-0
Shrewsbury had a couple more chances to make it three before half-time but Jones, Veitch, and Abbie McShane were all denied by the visiting ‘keeper – who was putting in a wonderful performance.
HALF TIME
Shrewsbury Town Women 2-0 Walsall Wood
After three more good chances in the opening few minutes of the second period, Shrewsbury were scratching their heads and wondering how it wasn’t more. Abbie McShane forced the ‘keeper into a good save from a free-kick just moments before Veitch chipped the goalie but couldn’t find the target. Still under the cosh, got a further two let offs when Veitch couldn’t convert a one-on-one and then Jones struck a low effort against the base of the post. It felt like only a matter of time before Shrewsbury got their third.
61 – Substitutions as Milly Jay and Zoe Child replace Lily McShane and Shannon McShane respectively.
The third goal finally came for Shrewsbury in the 65th minute when Veitch again found herself one-on-one with the Walsall Wood number one. She made no mistake this time and smashed it home from 12 yards out.
65 – GOAL Libby Veitch
3-0
71 – Substitutions. Maddie Jones and Milly Potter are replaced by Mia Pugh and Brogan Cook.
79 – Substitution as Anna France enters the fray in place of Grace Layton.
After a slow period in the game that Shrewsbury dominated but struggled to create dangerous opportunities in, they bagged a fourth thanks to the captain, Vikki Owen. Standing over a free-kick, Owen curled the ball home at the near post from a tight angle and wild celebrations ensued.
81 – GOAL Vikki Owen
4-0
86 – Substitution. Paris Schofield is replaced by Lily McShane.
A fifth and final goal was added by Zoe Child who did well to close down the ‘keeper and force her only error of the afternoon, as she kicked the ball against Child and it rebounded into the net.
90+ – GOAL Zoe Child
5-0
FULL TIME
Shrewsbury Town Women 5-0 Walsall Wood