Analysis: Taylor Perry stunner sparks Shrewsbury Town revival
As first goals of the season go, Taylor Perry could scarcely have scored a better or more important one for Shrewsbury Town.
Like the split second before a rollercoaster begins its descent, or the final tick of the clock before an exam starts, the silence between the crowd urging a player to shoot and the moment they do carries a unique tension.
Finding space outside the box, Perry duly obliged to the Meadow’s request. A second to steady himself followed by a thunderous, sweet strike that arrowed into the top corner.
There was an ironically beautiful moment of silence as the ball sailed towards the net. Afterwards? Bedlam.
The scoreline may suggest fine margins, but Salop rose to the occasion when it mattered most. In a match that carried the weight of a cup final, Town delivered, moving four points clear of fellow strugglers Harrogate Town and the League Two relegation zone.
The victory was their first since mid-November - the first since a win over relegation-threatened Newport County - and the similarities between the two matches were striking.
As they did two months earlier, Town produced a resilient performance, limiting the opposition to minimal chances, with a moment of quality proving decisive.
Those clad in blue and amber would have cared little about how the three points were earned, but they were delivered with magnificence nonetheless. A visceral roar echoed around the stadium as Shrewsbury halted their slide and produced answers when the stakes were highest.
While the headlines rightly belong to Perry for his sublime strike, Iwan Morgan was the compelling subplot. Well worthy of a goal - if not more - for his dazzling display, the teenager has already made a strong impression on Salop supporters.
