Shrewsbury 1 Accrington 0 - Report and pictures

Alex Gilliead’s first Shrewsbury goal ended 10-man Accrington Stanley’s 10-match unbeaten run to secure just a second league win for boss John Askey, writes Lewis Cox at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

A crucial win, in which the visitors played more than 75 minutes a man down after keeper Connor Ripley was dismissed, lifted Askey’s men from 20th to 16th in League One and relieved some pressure on the Town chief.

The moment that separated the sides came just after the hour as Gilliead headed in former Accrington man Shaun Whalley’s cross.

Accrington had not lost since the opening day of the season and had troubled Askey’s men in the opening exchanges but their task became extremely difficult after Ripley hacked down Angol outside the box 13 minutes in.

At times Salop made hard work of making their man advantage tell as efforts from distance flew off target.

The second victory comes three weeks after Town’s first win of the season and the manager will be keen to see his side kick on and progress up the standings after failing to build on their previous win.

Analysis:

Aaron Amadi-Holloway’s absence was the one change from Tuesday’s goalless draw at Walsall - Town’s sixth draw in 11 league games.

He was replaced by midfielder Josh Laurent, starting for the first time since the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth this time last month.

Askey tweaked the personnel’s position again by moving top scorer Lee Angol back into his familiar centre-forward position.

Gilliead and Whalley took to the flanks with Laurent slotting into a midfield three.

If Askey’s men were to record just a second league win of the season they had to halt John Coleman Accrington juggernaut, who were unbeaten in 10, not tasting defeat since the opening day.

They started the day level on fifth with big-hitters Sunderland. The League Two champions had caught the eye of several neutrals.

In front of what felt like a low-key atmosphere at a nervy Meadow, Coleman’s Accrington took the initiative and began to show why they were riding high in the third tier.

The visitors were clearly high on confidence and happy to test Salop from all angles. Tricky former Salop winger Jordan Clark stole the show in the opening half hour.

He twice went inches off target from distance with efforts that sent Joel Coleman flying. Coleman did however have to be on his game to deny attacker Sam Finley’s effort that looked destined for the bottom left corner.

Town struggled to find their feet inside 15 minutes as the hosts dominated. But the entire complexion of the match changed as the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

Highly-rated keeper Ripley had a rush of blood and few complaints as referee Andy Woolmer brandished the red card after some consultation with his assistant.

A ball over the deceived the Stanley backline and Angol looked set to beat Ripley to the ball. The goalkeeper spectacularly upended Angol, with a high karate kick to the Town forward’s chest area.

The only discussion seemed to be whether the incident was in or outside the box. It was given a few yards out and Shrews could not trouble sub keeper Jonny Maxted with the free-kick.

It was the story of the first half as Town did nothing to test the keeper, who was signed from non-league Guiseley in the summer.

It was not for the lack of efforts at goal. A total of 10 in the first period, many of them not troubling the keeper.

Josh Emmanuel shot narrowly over, Norburn had a couple of efforts fly off-target from distance but Shrews seemed reliant on pot-shots after huffing and puffing in the build-up, with little clear options for a decisive final pass or cross.

Left winger Gilliead looked Salop’s liveliest outlet. He did at least test Maxted with a low effort.

The half was summed up by Laurent fluffing his lines from close-range after Whalley’s drive cross picked him out.

Aside from Clark, the best player on the pitch in the first period, the visitors had no outball. Stanley were dropping deep and packing their own penalty area making it difficult to unlock the door.

As sodden blue and amber trudged off after an uninspiring first period it was obvious more guile would be needed for any joy.

Town second period picked up where Salop had left off. Efforts on target not truly testing Stanley.

An edgy Meadow crowd knew Askey’s men should be asking more questions of 10-man Stanley, who would have surely taken a point if offered it.

Anthony Grant’s frustration summed up the day. He groaned on a couple of occasions as team-mates opted to pass back rather than forward under no pressure.

The loudest cheer at the Meadow for some time came as Askey turned to Fejiri Okenabirhie at his time of need on the hour mark.

The much-needed opener came moments later. Whalley, who floated across the front line covering a number of positions all afternoon, lifted a fine cross from the right flank.

There was Gilliead, to meet in plumb from barely six yards out in the centre of the goal, to nod in high and into the corner, leaving Maxted no chance.

The rangy winger scored on just two occasions in two lengthy loan spells at Bradford and wanted to increase his tallies in Shropshire. His effort was a first goal in blue and amber.

The relief around the Meadow was palpable. Frustrated groans turned into ‘John Askey’ chants as the goal helped lift Salop into 14th.

Okenabirhie, still waiting for a first League One start after netting in the Central League Cup in midweek, looked tidy whenever on the ball and rippled the side netting with a fierce strike on the angle.

The 10 men of Accrington sent on forward Offrande Zanzala in search of an equaliser, meaning there was plenty of space for Askey’s men to exploit and find a killer second.

A second wasn’t to come, in the end Town did not need it as Gilliead’s goal proved the difference.

Stanley offered little in resistance to salvage their unbeaten run. Skipper Sean McConville’s poor dive in the box, which saw him booked, was the closest heart-in-mouth moment Salop fans had to suffer.

Askey and the Town faithful will hope that, unlike the win against Southend three weeks ago, the three points prove a springboard and can help the manager’s regime really kickstart.

Key moments:

16 - Red card Stanley! Connor Ripley is dismissed for a chest-high boot at Lee Angol. Sub keeper Jonny Maxted is sent on for Sam Finley. The collision was just outside the penalty area after a Joel Coleman clearance evaded the visitors’ backline.

21 - Josh Laurent connects with a decent strike from distance but its straight at Maxsted. The effort sets a theme for the game.

22 - Deep Shaun Whalley cross is a stretch for Alex Gilliead at the back post and he can’t turn on target from a tight angle.

26 - The lively Jordan Clark has a go after Whalley and Ollie Norburn got in each other’s way. Mat Sadler covered and the weak shot dropped wide.

30 - Josh Emmanuel has one of Town’s better efforts after cutting in from the right on his weaker left foot. Well-struck shot lashes just over.

34 - Gilliead’s powerful drive after cutting in from the left outside the box is scooped away by Maxted.

36 - Sean McConville should do better after fine Clark work but he shoots wide.

38 - Whalley’s cross from the left finds Laurent on the six yard line but he can’t adjust his feet.

43 - Norburn has another go from distance but drags it wide.

46 - Good save from Maxted down to his right to keep hold of Norburn’s well-struck half-volley.

62 - GOAL SALOP. Whalley’s cross is well met by Gilliead in the centre of the goal and he heads high into the corner. Such relief at the breakthrough.

65 - Fejiri Okenabirhie lashed one into the side netting after Gilliead’s break.

71 - Luke Waterfall cracks a header against the woodwork at the back post but was flagged offside from Whalley’s free-kick.

73 - Good back header from Angol drops a couple of inches over.