Eastleigh 1 Shrewsbury Town 2: Salop avoid FA Cup slip-up in Hampshire

Shrewsbury responded to last week’s defeat by avoiding a potential banana-skin against non-league opponents and progressing to the second round with victory in Hampshire.

The Shrews controlled the vast majority of the game, and despite conceding an equaliser heading into the closing stages, responded well and were worthy winners against the team sat 17th in the National League, writes Kieran Gallop.

After George Lloyd put Salop ahead from the spot in the first half, Shrewsbury nullified the home side for the most part but failed to kill off the contest by scoring a second.

A triple substitution from Eastleigh inspired a mini revival and an equaliser, but a rapid response saw Shrewsbury’s substitute in Isaac Fletcher having the last laugh by heading home the winner.

The early rounds of the FA Cup have been kind to Salop in recent years, with Shrewsbury failing to make the Third Round just once in the last nine years, with famous clashes with the likes of Liverpool fresh in the memory of the fans.

Shrewsbury also beat two non-league opponents on their run to the Third Round last season.

Gavin Cowan took no chances by making just one change following the Halloween haunting from former Shrews boss Gareth Ainsworth in defeat to Gillingham, with Jay Turner-Cooke returning from suspension to replace Will Gray.

The Spitfires were without stalwart defender Temi Eweka after he suffered facial fractures in their league clash with Barrow.

It was the Shrews who started on top, with George Lloyd breaking through and driving an effort across goal, forcing a save low down to Nick Townsend’s right.

After a lull following the fast start, Shrewsbury came close to taking the lead just after the midway point of the first half. A break down the left flank resulted in Kevin Berkoe’s cross being inadvertently skewed goalwards by Eastleigh’s Jake Caprice, before Townsend palmed it away.

Salop were afforded a golden opportunity to take the lead from twelve yards as half-time approached, after a driving run from Kian McMahon-Brown saw him clipped inside the area by Caprice.

Despite Eastleigh’s protestations that the challenge occurred outside the area, the referee pointed to the spot.

Up stepped George Lloyd, who recovered from a knock earlier in the half to send Townsend the wrong way and fire the penalty in off the right-hand post.

Shrewsbury started the second half as they ended the first as they pushed for a second to manufacture some breathing space. A counterattack led to McMahon-Brown breaking free inside the area and striking the woodwork with a driven effort tipped onto the near post by Townsend.

Although Salop only held a narrow advantage, Gavin Cowan’s side seemingly controlled the second half by nullifying the hosts, whilst simultaneously creating chances of their own to kill the game off.

However, Shrewsbury’s inability to kill the contest off came back to haunt them, as all it took was a brief spell of pressure from Eastleigh to find the equaliser.

Debutant Josh Laqeretabua made an immediate impact for the home side, providing energy down the right-hand side and putting in a teasing delivery. The ball was recycled back to the Fijian for him to find Max Dickov inside the area, allowing him to drag the ball across to the back post for another substitute in Will Randall to slot home past Will Brook.

The Shrews keeper had previously been a spectator but was beaten by the pace of the effort.

The equaliser did, however, seem to spark Cowan’s side into life, and it would not be long until they found themselves back in front.

It would be another inspired contribution off the bench as Isaac Fletcher was there to capitalise on Eastleigh getting caught out at the back post by heading home from Tom Sang’s cross. This came from the sheer tenacity of Sang to beat his man and dig out a cross any which way.

As the game drew to a close, the heavens well and truly opened in typical FA Cup fashion, but the Shrews were able to see the game through and send the 446 travelling Salop fans back to Shropshire with a smile on their faces.

Shrewsbury now await the outcome of Monday’s draw before hosting Oldham in a return to league action next Saturday.