Wimbledon 1 Shrewsbury 2 - Report and pictures

Defender Luke Waterfall netted twice, including a last minute winner, as Shrewsbury Town won away from home for the first time this season to help salvage boss John Askey’s under-fire position, writes Lewis Cox at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The big defender 89th minute header earned Askey a crucial three points in a game against second-bottom AFC Wimbledon that the boss said he simply had to win to keep his job.

And things were looking precarious after Town went in behind at half-time after conceding a sloppy goal in another sluggish first half display.

Salop equalised through Waterfall thumping volley just before the hour before his dramatic final second winner looks to have kept Askey in the job for at least another game and end the barrow away day woes.

It was a club-record equaling seventh-straight defeat for AFC Wimbledon.

ANALYSIS

Askey was fully aware what was on the line at Kingsmeadow after admitting his future was on the line in south west London.

Town could not have been much worse at Oxford last week and that damp display prompted the manager to ring the changes.

In total he made four but the headline selection was a Shrewsbury league debut for goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

It was the former Forest Green keeper’s first League One start since March 2014, when he played for Stevenage. His last league outing was for Barrow against Chester in the National League in April.

There was also a welcome return for skipper Mat Sadler, recalled after a two game absence - and he took the armband back from Luke Waterfall. Joel Coleman and James Bolton missed out.

Alex Gilliead and Aaron Amadi-Holloway were the other two changes, for Ryan Haynes and joint-top scorer Lee Angol.

Angol was culled early at Oxford for treading a yellow card tightrope and subsequently started from the bench.

Rumours of Askey’s exit were rife in the week leading up to the Cherry Red Records Stadium. The positioning of the compact stadium’s small stands behind the dugout meant there was very little room to hide for the Town management.

The formation and personnel was another role of the dice by the manager to have a final say and prove he can cut it with Town.

The hosts are in an even worse situation. Ardley’s men had lost six on the spin (as well as nine defeats in 10), another would equal an unwanted club record. They were slumped second-bottom ahead of kick-off.

The Wombles had won just once at home all season and, before the start of play, were three minutes away from five hours without a goal.

Thankfully for the visitors they began much brighter than at Oxford last time out.

There wasn’t much to shout about for either set of supporters in the opening quarter of an hour. The game felt edgy, tentative and tight.

It was apparent that both sides were worried about making a mistake that could prove hugely costly.

But when the game settled down midway through the first half it was Ardley’s hosts who enjoyed possession, signs of creativity and attempts on goal.

They clearly looked to hit targetmen Joe Pigott and Hanson when possible, but were also unafraid to play football through Tom Soares and wingers Mitch Pinnock.

The latter’s left foot was causing Town all sorts of problems and the hosts should have profited from that as several delightful deliveries were somehow spurned by the Dons attackers.

The home side, buoyed by their fine support despite a horror run of form, were growing stronger and as big defender Terell Thomas somehow blazed over from eight yards it felt like when not if they’d take the lead.

Ten minutes before the break Town’s limp display and lack of direction made them pay.

Shrewsbury were made to pay for more desperate defending. Again, for the second game running, Town conceded directly from a corner. Pinnock’s back post delivery evaded the defenders and goalkeeper and there was Hanson to nod down and in from two yards.

It was probably the easiest finish of his lengthy career. The big forward could not believe his luck.

It was the first time Ardley’s side had scored in some five-and-a-half hours and it was the least AFC Wimbledon deserved.

Dons chief executive Erik Samuelson this week stated that the Dons board are ‘very confident’ Ardley carries his dressing room with him.

That was clear as day as they celebrated Hanson’s goal with the manager.

It was another abject first half from Askey’s team and the manager faced a crucial team talk at Kingsmeadow. He emerged from it having hauled winger Gilliead off for Josh Laurent.

Town looked sharper for the change and Fejiri Okenabirhie expertly rolled his defender to smash at keeper Joe McDonnell.

Moments later Town were level and it was one of Askey’s signings and stalwarts, Waterfall, with the finish.

Askey needed Salop to rally and use the equaliser as a launchpad in a bid for the crucial three points.

The game, balanced on a knife-edge heading into its final stages, was certainly entertaining for the neutral.

The first half hour or so was dour, tight, edgy, with everybody trying to avoid making an error.

But, after Town have levelled, both sides threw the kitchen sink at it.

There were chances this way and that, at both ends, how it remained at 1-1 after numerous chances and close calls, nobody knew.

It felt as though there was either a moment of euphoria or a sting in the tail to come and it was the former.

Waterfall rose like a giant and his inch-perfect header flicked in off the post for sheer jubilation.

KEY MOMENTS

3 - Scott Wagstaff sends an ambitious first-time volley into the sky and it drops easily for debutant Steve Arnold.

7 - Good drive from Tom Soares, he lays it to Mitch Pinnock and the left winger sends a rocket a few feet over the top.

12 - Mat Sadler almost connects with a Greg Docherty corner but it is put behind by a Dons defender. Alex Gilliead then can’t connect with a flick from the next one.

22 - So poor from Town. A long goal kick somehow makes its way to the byline but, after it is turned across goal, Ben Purrington and Wagstaff get in each other’s way.

24 - Mitch Pinnock’s lovely left-footed delivery from a free-kick somehow went all the way to the back post and it was spurned wide.

34 - Huge chance. Terell Thomas, a late addition to the team for Rod McDonald, blazed over from the centre of the goal, eight yards out, from a corner.

35 - Goal Wimbledon. Shocking goal for Salop to concede as Pinnock’s right-sided corner is missed by everyone and simply headed in at the back post by James Hanson.

55 - Lovely spin from Fejiri Okenabirhie inside the box and he stings the palms of McDonnell.

57 - GOAL Salop! Greg Docherty’s corner from the left is headed across goal by Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Luke Waterfall hammers a first-time volley high into the net and in.

68 - Sub Josh Laurent curls a decent strike from distance at McDonnell.

70 - Huge moment. Pinnock’s free-kick from the edge of the D is pushed on to the post by Steve Arnold before Mat Sadler somehow clears from under his own crossbar as a Dons man was about to tap into the empty net.

72 - Ollie Norburn lets fly low from distance and McDonnell just about gets down to keep it out.

76 - So close Town! Docherty recycles it after a half-cleared corner and his cross-shot from the right side of the box takes a flick of somehow and flies just across the goal and somehow misses.

77 - Wombles sub Jake Jervis hammers just off target from outside the box with his left foot. Close.

78 - Closer still. Pinnock is found at the back post and has a bit of time but can’t convert with his weaker right foot.

80 - Aaron Amadi-Holloway through on goal, defenders catch him and the forward drops, but referee Lee Collins is not interested in a penalty. Okenabirhie and Grant then have shots blocked.

89 - SALOP GOAL! Waterfall wins it with a header off the post. Unbelievable.