LATE MATT FINISH TAKES THE SHINE OFF SHREWS
SHREWSBURY ...... 2 WOLVES .............. 2
WOLVES manager Nuno Espirito Santo avoided the temptation of running onto the pitch to celebrate a stoppagetime equaliser but he was another convert to the magic of the FA Cup yesterday.
His team were facing humiliation and a cascade of criticism with 15 minutes left against Shrewsbury when Luke Waterfall put the minnows 2-0 ahead.
Instead, they saved themselves with a stirring finale and an equaliser deep into stoppage time – and left Espirito Santo purring with delight.
“It was a good game with an emotional finish,” said the Wolves boss, who now knows how captivating the world’s oldest competition can be.
“My players gave everything to get the draw on a tough pitch. We had to bounce back and we did.”
This was the kind of comeback of which historic FA Cup runs are made, and perhaps Wolves could be on the way to their first final in 59 years.
If so, they won’t forget the drama of this old-fashioned occasion.
A banner among the home fans illustrated why a capacity crowd had come to watch a classic FA Cup collision of different worlds.
Standing Tall Amongst Giants, it read – hoping to be an inspirational message to the minnows of their beloved Shrewsbury team.
The home side were football paupers playing here against the millionaire Premier League princes of Wolves, but you wouldn’t have known it through an evenly matched first half.
Maybe it helped that driving rain arrived just before kick-off and that Wolves were running into a stiff breeze.
More to the point, the incessant hustle and harry of the home team was a telling factor.
Shrewsbury’s unsung players were clearly relishing the occasion against their near neighbours in what some
TO THE RESCUE: Wing-back Matt Doherty rises above the defence to nod home the last-gasp equaliser for Wolves
call the M54 derby. The midfield battle was intense and it made for few chances at either end.
Wing-back Matt Doherty, returning to the Wolves side, posed the most significant threat in opening period, shooting over with one effort and then setting up Adama Traore, who ballooned a shot into the crowd.
It took 38 minutes for the home side to forge an attempt on goal, a swerving, longrange drive from Greg Docherty that stung the hands of Wolves keeper John Ruddy.
Wolves didn’t heed the warning and fell behind just after the break.
It was a stunning goal by Shrewsbury, who broke with pace on the counter-attack through Fejiri Okenabirhie and his pass gave Docherty space to lash home a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
The home fans celebrated wildly along with manager Sam Ricketts, once a player with Wolves. For a club lying 18th in League one, a single point above the relegation zone, this was wonderful escapism.
Wolves were stirred into serious action, and introducing regular striker Raul Jimenez from the bench.
Chances were made
– and spurned. Ruben
Neves slashed a shot over the bar, Helda Costa saw a point-blank header well saved and Jimenez failed to make proper contact with his first opportunity.
A goal looked inevitable. It was, but it came at the other end for Shrewsbury from a corner.
Ricketts had sent on a note from the touchline and Ollie Norburn read it as he waited to take the set-piece. The words of wisdom seemed to work wonders; his cross was perfection and central defender Waterfall powered a close-range header into the net.
Celebrations had barely subsided when Wolves scored themselves, Jimenez converting a cross from substitute Ivan Cavaleiro.
Could the minnows hold out?
Well, almost. It took until the second minute of stoppage time for the Premier League side to conjure an equaliser and spare their blushes.
Traore crossed from the right and Doherty (left) headed home from six yards out to break more than a few hearts in the home crowd.
“It’s real mixed emotions,” said Shrewsbury manager Ricketts.
“The performance of the team was very good but I am disappointed not to win the game. Don’t write us off yet, though. We went to Stoke and won in a replay in the last round, remember.”