Shrewsbury Town verdict: Spirit to fight on till the death a positive for battling Town

Not for the first time at home recently, they’ve pushed on right to the death – when it looked like it was beyond them and they were playing below their best – and come up with the goods.

One piece of quality, a good ball into the box, was enough. But more so it was another show of heart and desire to clinch a crucial point late on.

It was only a point, not the three Sam Ricketts’ men managed to turn around late on against Wycombe a few weeks ago, but you could not put a value on that point against a Scunthorpe side using the dark arts to keep Town down.

It almost felt like a win. Yes, it could be tinged with regret there wasn’t enough to beat an out-of-sorts Scunthorpe, but in the context of the time of the season, remaining fixtures and timing of the goals, it’s a massive point.

Ricketts is right in that it was the very least his side deserved. Going into the game, there was a bit of over-confidence that it would be a walk in the park for Salop because the Iron were without a manager and had lost five from six.

The visitors did not make it easy. Town were in control for 10 or 15 minutes, but it wore off and Scunthorpe’s game plan really game to the fore.

The plan from Andy Dawson’s side was to upset Shrews’ rhythm and eat up every bit of time on the clock possible.

There were at least half-a-dozen injury issues, with two players coming off crocked.

They took an age time after time – whenever Town built up a head of steam, there was a 30-second delay. It plagued Shrews, knocked them off their stride.

And when the Iron edged ahead midway through the first half through a really poor goal to concede it gave them something to cling to.

A simple move and cross from the right was converted by powerful strike from Kyle Wootton.

Town’s defenders will be disappointed they could not deal with the cross. With three strapping centre-halves in there, Salop should not be losing out one against three.

Three points would have been invaluable to Scunthorpe in their own plight. While 1-0 down at half-time, Town had been leapfrogged by Scunny in the League One table. All of a sudden the gap to the drop zone was down from four points to two. It would’ve been a terrible result at home to a relegation rival.

Aside from a couple of moments from corners, Town did not look too confident of regaining a foothold. Passes were going astray, touches were loose, they looked disjointed. The home crowd were understandably edgy.

When the Iron repeated their antics after the break, you wondered if it would be Town’s day and whether the good work at Southend seven days earlier would be unravelled.

But from the hour mark onwards, the home side found their footing.

There was an urgency from the management – you could see Ricketts urging his side on and you felt an urgency in the crowd.

Shrewsbury were the better side, had more of the ball in better positions, albeit failing to work Jak Alnwick. There was a step up and Scunthorpe were more penned in.

Most balls into the box came from the superb Shaun Whalley. He’s the one each week that drives Salop on each week, who beats a man and sends in a cross. It doesn’t always come off, but the boldness deserves credit.

Ricketts must also take credit for his attacking double substitution midway through the second half, sending on first Aaron Amadi-Holloway for James Bolton, then Tyrese Campbell for Anthony Grant.

Yes, Town had to chase the game, but it could’ve bitten them on the backside allowing Scunthorpe to score a second.

Amadi-Holloway’s towering presence was a big influence.

He looked in the mood to make a difference with headers on goal and good combination play.

Both he and Stoke loanee Campbell, who added a buzz, gave Salop different dimensions with Fejiri Okenabirhie having a rare off-day.

The tempo and ante was upped. Ricketts mentioned the word ‘drive’ a lot in his interview afterwards. That was evident.

The fans played a part in that too, they stuck with their side until the death and didn’t turn their backs.

Whether it felt like an equaliser was coming was debatable because Alnwick had precious little to do, but you sensed the crosses and approach play were becoming more frequent.

It was a case of Town finding that one moment capable of damaging the visitors.

And having put their fans through the wringer, they again got their reward with another late show.

Whalley made the difference, no surprise. The out-of-contract wing wizard they will be so desperate to keep in the summer has been superb since returning from injury two months ago.

His assist, for the unfortunate Adam Hammill’s own goal with six minutes left, was a delicious one. Amadi-Holloway was inches from it, Alnwick missed it and Hammill couldn’t avoid it.

A fortunate goal, but you earn your own luck through intent and the Iron showed a lack of that. The drive and positivity deserved the luck, and a point.

It could’ve been three, and moving up to 49 points with their rivals dropping points would have been huge, but 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go Ricketts would have snatched your hand off for that one.

It felt like a win, a significant, massive point. On to 47 now, three shy of the magical figure, which can be achieved at Gillingham next week.

It’s a real chance to go down to Kent and get the job done.