Shrewsbury Town 1 AFC Wimbledon 0 - Report and pictures

Shrewsbury Town returned to the top of League One as Stefan Payne’s second-half strike earned them a valuable 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon, writes Lewis Cox at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Paul Hurst’s 10 men took full advantage of Blackburn’s day off and went a point clear at the top of the standings with just eight games to go. Shrews are not unbeaten in their last seven games, winning five.

Bryn Morris’ late red card, for two yellows, was the only blot on the copybook as Hurst’s central midfield options to yet another turn for the worse.

Top scorer Payne’s 54th minute winner, his 13th goal of the season on his first league start since January 1, was enough to claim the three points as Town improved in the second period after an extremely cagey first half.

The hosts managed the game well and, despite just a one-goal deficit, restricted relegation threatened AFC Wimbledon to pressure little in terms of a response.

Wigan also won at Bury, meaning the Latics sit second with Rovers dropping down to third. Payne’s goal took Town from third to first in the live standings, with relief the overwhelming emotion at Montgomery Waters Meadow after a dull first half.

Analysis

Payne was handed his first start in League One since New Year’s Day, where Hurst’s team beat Oldham 1-0 on home soil.

The forward came in for the suspended Abu Ogogo, who missed out alongside fellow midfielder Ben Godfrey in a different Town line-up to the side that has regularly picked up results this season.

Craig MacGillivray started in goal for Dean Henderson, who was away on international duty with England’s under-21s, who play at Molineux this evening.

Neal Ardley’s Dons had recovered well from a run of four straight league defeats last month to win two of their last five but still hovered just three points clear of the drop ahead of kick-off.

There were a number of question marks ahead of which personnel and formation Hurst would use going into the clash with Ogogo and Godfrey unavailable.

The boss opted to go with Payne alongside Carlton Morris in attack, leaving Bryn Morris and Jon Nolan to patrol the central midfield.

Thoughts ahead of kick-off switched to the late, great Ken Mulhearn, who sadly passed away earlier this month, as well as Leo Joseph Riley, son of Joe Riley and his partner Kayleigh, who was stillborn. A fitting minute’s applause was observed from both sets of supporters at the Meadow.

Both the home crowd and the pocket of traveling supporters tried to get the game going as a contest in the early exchanges but there was very little to write home about in the opening half hour.

Hurst’s men saw more of the ball than their lowly visitors but created very little in a bitty first period that lacked tempo.

Omar Beckles helped a Shaun Whalley free-kick just wide but AFC Wimbledon also showed they were capable of putting decent moves together as Andy Barcham scuffed an effort at MacGillivray before Liam Trotter also troubled Town’s stand-in goalkeeper after a slick one-two on the edge of the box.

A drab start meant for a flat atmosphere in the Meadow as the game awaited a spark.

Town’s moment looked to arrive just after half hour as Alex Rodman cut in from the left and smashed a swerving effort goalwards. Shot-stopper George Long parried away straight into the path of Payne who, under pressure, could not turn home into the gaping net.

Forty minutes was enough for Hurst, who started the game in the press box for the first time in a number of months, and the boss went down to prowl is usual dugout position.

The visitors summed up the opening half as top scorer Lyle Taylor and the dangerous Barcham and Trotter took far too long over a presentable opportunity. The latter duo dilly-dallied on the edge of the box and Luke Hendrie was just able to clear.

On the club’s Community Day, where Jamie Edwards’ fine team were given generous applause on a lap of the pitch, a young Town fan read out poetry at half-time, the football that preceded it had hardly been poetry in motion.

Shrewsbury came out for the second half with much more purpose and desire to break forward.

A couple of dangerous balls into the box almost resulted in the deadlock being broken as C Morris and Payne both has presentable headed openings.

But within 10 minutes of the restart the relief around the Meadow was palpable. Top scorer Payne was sharp to gobble up the finish after the ball bounced off his partner C Morris.

The goal took Town from third to first in the League One standings. It was just reward for their second half reaction.

Hurst’s men, backed on by the crowd’s chants of being top of the league, managed their lead well. Wimbledon’s long balls were being well defended, particularly by the head bandaged figure of skipper Mat Sadler.

Town continued to look threatening and in control of possession. Beckles was a welcome outlet down the left flank while B Morris and Hendrie were playing with more confidence.

B Morris was denied with a fierce angled strike while Rodman and Beckles also had efforts fly wide or blocked.

Ardley’s side rallied towards the end as Taylor engineered a fine flick at the near post from sub Egli Kaja’s cross but MacGillivray stood firm.

There was to be one final twist five minutes before the end as B Morris was sent off for his second yellow card of the second period.

Both bookings were soft and avoidable. Hurst would have been cursing his luck as another central midfielder found himself suspended for upcoming fixtures.

Town fans could breathe a sigh of relief as Taylor blasted a wasteful free-kick well over in added time as Hurst’s men took top spot again.

Key moments

15 - Shaun Whalley whips a right-sided free-kick in and Omar Beckles can only help wide at the near post.

24 - Andy Barcham’s scuffed effort from just inside the box is the first effort on goal and Craig MacGillivray claims comfortably.

28 - Visitors have upped the ante and Liam Trotter gives an impressive give-and-go with Lyle Taylor before striking a half-volley straight at MacGillivray.

35 - Big Town chance. Alex Rodman’s fierce strike rom distance parried and Stefan Payne can only help the awkward rebound wide under pressure.

43 - Opening for the visitors but Taylor, Barcham and Harry Forrester waste so much time passing inside the box Luke Hendrie can clear.

49 - Carlton Morris can’t get enough on an effort after Payne’s smart flick from Hendrie’s cross.

51 - Big opening after a good start to the second half from Salop. Omar Beckles and C Morris with a smart one-two down the left before Rodman’s measured cross met by a powerful C Morris leap, the frontman can only flash a header wide.

52 - Another close shave for the hosts as Payne judges the flight of a ball over Will Nightingale but cannot get enough on a first-time header when he had the chance to take a touch.

54 - GOAL! Another right-sided Hendrie cross is not quite taken in by C Morris, but the ball bounces off him into the path of Payne who swept in left-footed for his 13th goal of the season.

83 - Really neat flick from Taylor after Egli Kaja’s cross. MacGillivray saves really well at his near post.

90+2 - Taylor wastes a glorious late chance by firing a 22 yard free-kick way over.