FA Cup: Shrewsbury Town 1 Scunthorpe 0 – Report and pictures

Coyne’s men downed an uninspiring Scunthorpe 1-0 thanks to Aaron Amadi-Holloway’s first-half strike but goalkeeper Steve Arnold was the late hero with a dramatic penalty save.

Only referee Neil Hair will know why he awarded the Iron a penalty three minutes from time but Arnold made a superb save from 12 yards to deny the visiting dangerman Josh Morris.

Town deserved their victory, earned by Amadi-Holloway’s powerful drive - his second goal in three games - and continued their superb form under Coyne.

With speculation about an approach for Wrexham boss Sam Ricketts gathering pace as Town head into next week, any Salop boss-elect will be a delighted onlooker as Town booked themselves a ticket for a possible date with the Premier League big boys in the new year.

There was a chance that the visit of Scunthorpe could be the last fixture overseen by Coyne and Eric Ramsay.

The duo have carried out a superb job of stabilising Town’s squad and taking them on a fine run of form.

Favourites

Shrews’ run of four wins from five under Coyne certainly had them installed as favourites for the second round tie.

By contrast Scunthorpe have nosedived in League One since early improvements under boss Stuart McCall.

Their league form of seven defeats in nine was a concern and injuries and suspension have hit the Glanford Park outfit hard. Their 1-0 victory over Shrews in September felt like a distant memory for Iron fans.

The FA Cup was seen as some much-needed respite for the Lincolnshire visitors.

Town had to adjust their personnel, something that was not a common theme under Coyne’s stewardship.

A knee injury to central midfielder Ollie Norburn, sustained against Plymouth on Tuesday, meant he missed out with winger Alex Gilliead stepping in.

Despite summer signing from Newcastle Gilliead an out-and-out winger by trade, he filled in at the tip of Town’s regular midfield diamond with Greg Docherty, Josh Laurent and Anthony Grant patrolling behind him.

The scoreline could easily have read 1-1 after a frenetic five minutes. Defenders Luke Waterfall and Omar Beckles were unable to turn in a dangerous Docherty corner.

Before, straight down the other end, Salop could not deal with a simple high ball and Lee Novak nodded a Matthew Lund cross agonizingly wide.

Pressure

Scunthorpe’s direct approach was troubling Town. Easy balls over the top were inviting pressure as the hosts struggled to clear.

Waterfall was fortunate to escape still on the pitch as he appeared to tangle with an Iron attacker who had escaped the Town backline outside the box.

After much deliberation between officials a free-kick was, somehow, awarded Town’s way.

That threat seemed to be a trigger for Town to come to the party as the sharp Fejiri Okenabirhie skipped away from his man and stung the palms of Jak Alnwick from the left side.

Super vision from Gilliead then played Beckles through on goal but the defender lacked composure as he sent his finish straight at Alnwick.

The Cup tie was open and Laurent almost lit it up with a moment to savour. Having won the ball in his left-back position, the midfielder broke the length of the pitch before his strike from distance looped on to the bar via a deflection.

It could easily have been 2-2 inside the first quarter. Both goals led a charmed life as Docherty passed up two opportunities from a narrow angle before Andy Dales flashed a cross-shot dangerously across goal.

The only surprise was that it took until the 36th minute for the scoreboard to change. Amadi-Holloway’s rasping finish ended a flowing move involving Grant and Gilliead to lash in his second goal in three games.

The Welshman, who admitted in the week he felt in good shape following a run of starts, fired in powerfully from outside the box after cutting in from the left, arrowing the strike into the opposite far corner.

Rip-roaring

Town handled their narrow lead well. Josh Morris’ trademark free-kick was the one threat from the visitors before the break and Steve Arnold dealt with the bouncing effort admirably after it skidded off the wet turf.

The second period began in less rip-roaring fashion than the first but Coyne’s men were in charge and looking the better side as the held the Iron at arm’s length.

Laurent swivelled well from a towering Amadi-Holloway before firing over. League One strugglers Scunthorpe huffed and puffed but showed little signs of breaking down resolute Town.

Shrewsbury looked the more energetic and creative of the two teams but did not test Alnwick as they hunted for a second.

The visitors fired a note of warning as big striker Kyle Wootton header just off-target as Town switched off defensively.

In fact the second period just did not get going as a spectacle, with referee Hair busy with his whistle, stopping play at every attempt.

It offered the Iron’s dead-ball specialist Morris another effort on goal from outside the box but again Arnold was impressive in dealing with the effort with minimal fuss.

But, to the bemusement of everybody inside the stadium other than the man in the middle, Scunthorpe were awarded a golden ticket to remain in the Cup.

It appeared as if official Hair had awarded Town a free-kick after some jostling in the box but jeers rang out as, after some thinking time, he pointed at the spot.

Amid the incredulity inside the stadium, Morris stepped up but his uncharacteristically weak penalty was kept out by Salop hero Arnold who took the adulation of an adoring crowd as Town booked their place.

Key moments:

5 - Luke Waterfall and Omar Beckles both have a go at turning home Greg Docherty’s corner but Jak Alnwick somehow keeps the scramble out.

6 - Lee Novak climbs well and sends a header narrowly wide from Matthew Lund’s hung cross. Close.

15 - Good save from Alnwick to keep out a fierce Fejiri Okenabirhie strike from the left corner of the box after good footwork.

17 - Beckles is slipped in the inside left channel from a fine Alex Gilliead through ball but he sends a first-time finish at Alnwick.

21 - Stunning work from Josh Laurent. He wins the ball in the left-back position before driving 60 yards and finding the crossbar with his deflected strike.

26 - Aaron Amadi-Holloway heads Docherty’s free-kick over the bar.

36 - GOAL! Town lead through Amadi-Holloway. Anthony Grant starts the move before Gilliead plays it to the striker. He lashes in from the left corner of the box.

45 - Super save from Steve Arnold to keep out Josh Morris’ trademark free-kick. He parries away well after a difficult bounce.

50 - Amadi-Holloway’s knockdown finds Laurent in the box. The midfielder spins well but fires his shot over.

62 - Docherty drives over with his left foot from outside the box after a good move involving Laurent.

68 - A warning for Shrewsbury as powerful forward Kyle Wootton climbs well but heads just wide for Scunthorpe.

87 - Penalty Scuntorpe. Inexplicable decision by referee Neil Hair to award a late penalty but Arnold becomes the Salop hero as he denies Morris from the penalty spot.

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3):

Arnold; Bolton, Waterfall, Sadler ©, Beckles; Grant, Laurent, Docherty; Gilliead (John-Lewis, 75), Amadi-Holloway, Okenabirhie (Emmanuel, 90+2).

Subs not used: Coleman (gk), Haynes, Sears, Colkett, Eisa.

Scunthorpe United (4-4-2):

Alnwick; McArdle ©, Goode, Burgess, Borthwick-Jackson; Thomas, Morris, Lund, Dales (Ben El-Mhanni, 75); Novak, Wootton.

Subs not used: Flatt (gk), Horsfield, Ugbo, Humphrys, Lewis, Sutton.

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 3,427