Will Boyle hailed for aerial dominance after sealing Shrewsbury Town's survival

Goal hero Will Boyle earned praise for his aerial threat and the powerful header that sealed safety for Shrewsbury Town.

Boss Gavin Cowan revealed the defender has won more ‘first contacts’ inside the opposition box than any other centre-back in League Two.

Boyle’s superb header into the bottom-right corner from around the penalty spot secured Salop’s victory over Oldham Athletic last weekend.

It was the 30-year-old’s fourth league goal of the campaign and ensured Shrewsbury’s EFL survival, drawing praise from Cowan.

Cowan said: “His stats are that he's got more first contacts in the opposition's box than any other centre-half in the league.

“That's important for us. It's important that he's brave enough to go and do that. Those first contacts can't just be get-a-contact.

“They've got to be quality contacts as well and that one was a really well-guided header.”

In 41 league appearances, Boyle has had 47 attempts on goal, with 16 on target, underlining the threat he carries inside the box, especially from set-pieces.

Prior to the clash with Oldham, 12 of Shrewsbury’s 16 goals under Cowan had come from dead-ball situations. While Boyle’s header did not come directly from the initial free-kick delivery, it stemmed from a recycled ball back into the box.

The defender returned to action against Oldham after being rested for the defeat at league leaders Bromley, and was delighted to play his part in a big win over a side that had lost just once in their previous 10 games.

“They're obviously chasing the play-offs, so it was an important game for them,” Boyle said.

“They were at it in the second half, they were chucking everything at us to get back in the game.

“I thought in the first half, we played some decent stuff. We managed to clean it out, smooth it out at times and play a little bit more, sort of control the game with the ball a little bit more than we have done previously.

“In the second half, there were about 15 different seasons, it felt like. Finishing off with sunshine now, but the hail, the wind, so that made the game difficult.

“Although they were chucking the kitchen sink at it, I thought Coxy made a couple of good saves again, like he has done for the whole time he's been here really.

“But it was a good win ultimately in the end.”