Shrews use their Ed to claim first win of year
SHREWS skipper Dave Edwards headed his side to their first league win of 2020.
Edwards scored in the 76th minute to secure the points and his boss Sam Ricketts said: “The players have showed the same grit and determination they’ve showed through this really rough run, but today they got their rewards for it.
“We’re all involved in football to win games. The staff and the players know where we are and what we’re trying to do – and the supporters are as well.
“I’ve had some great messages this week. Cards, letters from the supporters writing in wishing us well and giving us their full backing and that’s what it’s about.
“I appreciate that and I appreciate everyone’s support.”
Edwards settled the game when he headed in an inviting cross from Callum Lang to earn Shrewsbury a first league win since a 1-0 victory at Blackpool on December 21.
Earlier, former Hibernian midfielder Josh Vela, making his debut, fired off target before his corner posed problems for Doncaster, with goalkeeper Seny Dieng finally claiming the ball on the line.
Ben Sheaf had Doncaster’s first chance, but he fired over and then Jacob Ramsey drove a shot straight at goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
Ben Whiteman’s curling effort was well-saved by O’Leary early in the second half and then Ramsey cracked a shot from 20 yards against a post.
Conor McAleny’s shot was well stopped by Dieng and Aaron Pierre’s volley was deflected wide as Shrewsbury pushed for a breakthrough, which Edwards eventually provided.
Doncaster chased a late equaliser and O’Leary saved with his legs to deny Cameron John.
Doncaster boss Darren Moore said: “We didn’t deserve to win the game.
“I didn’t think we were right on the ball. We just didn’t do enough really to win the game.
“They went man for man on us and stopped us doing anything we wanted to do, but we just didn’t have enough guile and cleverness.
“We had the chances, but we didn’t show that ruthless enough approach in the final third really to get on the end of things and then we switch off midway through the latter parts of the game and we concede a sloppy goal.”