Shrewsbury 1 AFC Wimbledon 1 - Report

Chapman, benched after Saturday’s disappointment at Bristol Rovers, emerged for injured skipper Ollie Norburn on half hour and took just five minutes to curl in his latest beauty in blue and amber.

Steve Cotterill and Aaron Wilbraham’s hosts were twice denied by the offside flag as Daniel Udoh and Curtis Main efforts were chalked off before substitute youngster Ayoub Assal scrambled in a dramatic equaliser for a point.

Town, who remain 17th nine points clear of danger, were unable to respond from their Bristol disappointment with three points against the relegation strugglers, who climbed a place to 21st.

The management team decided on three changes from the limp display in defeat at Rovers on Saturday.

More interesting was the identity of those to drop to the bench, as influential attackers Chapman and Shaun Whalley were both withdrawn. Sean Goss, the two-goal hero from a week earlier against MK Dons, also dropped out.

In their places came Josh Daniels, David Davis and Daniel Udoh.

Just as noteworthy was the change of system as Town reverted to Cotterill’s favoured 3-5-2 shape, which was not used throughout February as Town lost Aaron Pierre and Matthew Pennington to injury.

But Pennington’s return, coupled with the disappointment in Bristol, prompted the switch as Daniels came in for a first start since December at right wing-back.

Davis, a January free agent signing from Birmingham, made the first start since his return to the club in midfield alongside stalwarts Norburn and Josh Vela.

Town mixed it up in attack with Udoh partnering Curtis Main from the off for the first time since Main signed on deadline day in a front two.

The hosts were not the only side looking for a response from weekend disappointment. The Dons were beaten 3-0 by high-flying Hull at their new Plough Lane home. Wimbledon arrived in Shropshire 22nd in League One.

Shrews’ rotation of creative personnel could have been viewed as a risk but the prospect of forward-thinking pair Nathanael Ogbeta and Daniels at wing-back was certainly an offensive prospect.

After struggling to barely get a shot away until their late consolation at the Memorial Stadium, skipper Norburn went about an early sighter, dragging low and wide from 30 yards.

The contest was scrappy early on as Shrews worked out their new system but did well in their physical battles, with Daniels and Davis lively early on.

But a rogue crossfield ball from Norburn was intercepted by Dons who ventured forward into the box and only a brilliant last-ditch recovery from a mixture of Vela and Pennington denied 15-goal visiting dangerman Joe Pigott an effort on goal in the box.

The clearest chance of the opening exchanges fell to Daniels who scuffed his left-footed shot at the back post after a cross from the impressive Ogbeta and decent progressive passes from Davis.

Norburn appeared to be limping from an innocuous incident and was forced off on half hour, with existing strapping on show possibly a sign of an existing problem.

His replacement, however, was star man Chapman, who needed little invitation to make his point having been left out.

Some industry from Udoh forced a corner and the right-sided dead ball was taken quickly and shortly by Daniels and worked to Chapman, who was poised and ready just outside the penalty area, slightly right.

And what came next is everything Shrewsbury have become accustomed to.

Town’s little magician, with one of his first touches, controlled himself before caressing an outrageous curled finish over goalkeeper Sam Walker’s stretch and into the far top corner.

It was right out of the top drawer, with all the confidence and arrogance of a Bruno Fernandes Premier League finish.

The contest required a piece of magic and Chapman’s latest entry to his personal goal of the season competition certainly did the job.

Main did test Walker just the break with a smart near post header from Daniels’ impressive delivery but the goalkeeper was equal to the effort.

The Meadow visitors, now tasked with a longer walk from the Smithy’s Bar (former Power League) before the match and at half-time, emerged on the front foot for the second period.

Callum Reilly’s sharp effort flicked off team-mate Pigott on its way through to Matija Sarkic, juggled by the on-loan goalkeeper but safely claimed.

Lethargy from Town’s first-half display carried over into the second period.

But for all of the caution over a slender lead, the visitors did not further trouble Sarkic’s goal. The hosts’ main concern was an apparent hamstring injury for Williams, who appeared to be limping and liaising with Shrews’ dugout.

Town did carve out a clear chance for a crucial second with 25 minutes left. A lovely flowing move involving Daniels, Vela and Udoh freed Ogbeta on the left side of the box but a rush of blood saw the youngster blaze well over at the near post.

Confusion followed at the midway point of the second half as Pennington swept home a Daniels corner emphatically but celebrations on the defender’s home debut were cut short by a delayed offside flag as it appeared Udoh’s flick in front of the goalkeeper was judged offside.

Frustration continued as Main’s tap-in from Vela’s ball was also chalked off for offside inside the final 10 minutes.

It felt like a late sting in the tail could punish Town and Dons did just that.

A high ball from the left was nodded down and pounced upon by substitute Assal, almost right on Sarkic’s toes, to bundle in through the goalkeeper.

Sarkic was left unhappy at the treatment but replays suggest the Dons youngster did little wrong in salvaging a point on his league debut.

A frenetic final few moments saw Jack Rudoni flash wide from distance before another couple of Salop scares, as the hosts were left to make do with a share of the spoils.

Teams

Shrewsbury Town (3-5-2):

Sarkic; Pennington, Williams, Ebanks-Landell; Daniels (Whalley, 73), Norburn © (Chapman, 30), Vela, Davis (Edwards, 85), Ogbeta; Main, Udoh.

Subs not used: Burgoyne, Golbourne, Goss, Pyke.

AFC Wimbledon (4-4-2):

Walker; Johnson (O’Neill, 62), Nightingale, Heneghan, Alexander; Reilly (Assal, 71), Dobson (Rudoni, 71), Woodyard ©, McCloughlin (Oksanen, 71); Longman, Pigott.

Subs not used: Cox, Chislett, Guinness-Walker.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson

Attendance: Zero