Match reports

200111 - match report salop

11th January

Michael Appleton's men came from behind to draw 1-1 thanks to an early second-half Tyler Walker penalty at the Montgomery Water Meadow.

The Imps were unlucky not to take all three points in the end following an impressive attacking spell in the second half, with goalkeeper Max O'Leary keeping Shrewsbury in the game a number of times.

Calum Coventry and Tyreece John-Jules both made their Imps debuts after arriving at the club on loan earlier in the week.

The Teams:

City made three changes to their starting XI from the side which travelled to Sunderland last weekend, new arrivals Tyreece John-Jules and Conor Coventry joined Cian Bolger in the starting eleven, replacing Jack Payne, Michael Bostwick and Harry Anderson.

The Imps:

Shrewsbury Town: O'Leary, Pierre, Golbourne, Edwards, Williams, Whalley, Norburn (C), Lang, Sears, Ebanks-Landell, Laurent

Substitutes: Murphy, Beckles, Giles, Walker, Love, Udoh, Cummings

Kick-off:

The Imps started the game well having their fair share of possession in the opening stages. City, attacking towards their travelling away fans, had an early chance when Jake Hesketh made a simple pass to Joe Morrell who played Tyler Walker through with a first-time pass. The Imps forward hit it quickly but saw his curling shot dip just over Max O’Leary’s goal.

As both sides continued to put pressure on each other, the Imps had another chance when new arrival Tyreece John-Jules linked up with his strike partner Walker who was fouled by his marker Scott Golbourne, winning City an early free-kick. However, the Imps set-piece caused no trouble for the home side.

Josh Laurent attempted to put Town ahead with a long-range shot, only for the midfielder to see his strike fly wide in a wild manner, causing no problems for Imps shot-stopper Josh Vickers.

Shortly after, Shrewsbury were forced into an early change when Omar Beckles replaced the injured Aaron Pierre.

O’Leary pulled off a superb save for the home side when Tyler Walker fired a low and hard shot off the back of a brilliant first-time pass from John-Jules, resulting in a corner for the Imps.

Jorge Grant’s delivery was fired into the area but quickly knocked away for a second corner, which was cleared quickly by Shrewsbury as Cian Bolger couldn’t get proper control over the ball.

Moments after, the home side nearly took the lead through a corner as Vickers was forced to make a diving punch clear onto the bouncing cross in his area.

Shrewsbury took the lead shortly before half-time when David Edwards went down in the penalty area winning a spot-kick. Vickers had no chance in the City goal as Salop captain Oliver Norburn smashed his penalty hard and low to the left of the goalkeeper.

Town had a second penalty appeal minutes after when Shaun Whalley found himself on the floor in the City penalty area, however, this time referee Andy Haines quickly waved play on.

The Imps also made a first-half change as Michael Appleton mixed things up in midfield with January arrival Zack Elbouzedi replacing Hesketh on the right-wing.

Half-Time - Shrewsbury Town 1 The Imps 0

The Imps were straight on the attack in the second half winning a penalty moments after the kick-off when Grant was clumsily fouled by Beckles. Lincoln striker WALKER was calm under pressure as he fired home City’s equaliser in style, giving O'Leary no opportunity to make a save.

The striker was almost running off to celebrate again as his one on one with O’Leary whispered past the far post, however, the goal wouldn’t have counted anyway as the linesman had his flag up for offside.

New arrival Calum Coventry found himself in the referee’s book after picking up a booking for a foul on Whalley who attempted to break into the City area.

With the Imps remaining in possession after equalising, they almost took the lead through Grant who forced O’Leary to tip his powerful shot onto the crossbar, and out for a corner. The midfielder produced a fantastic delivery from the set-piece towards the back post where defender Jason Shackell was waiting to volley the ball in with his left foot, however, the captain’s strike also rattled the crossbar, this time out to safety for the home side.

John-Jules applauded the travelling Imps on his debut as he was replaced by John Akinde midway through the second half.

Zack Elbouzedi got to show City fans his pace as he ran past a collection of Shrewsbury players with ease. The Imps winger then released the ball to Morrell who drew a foul from Golbourne. The Town man was shown a yellow card for his tackle.

The Imps continued to look the stronger side as they kept piling on the pressure and attacking the Salop backline. Harry Toffolo linked up well with Grant on the left side, as the City full-back beat his man to play Grant in, only for the 25-year-old’s shot to be rushed and hit over.

O’Leary was in action again for the home side moments later when Walker found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper for the second time in the half, the Shrewsbury gloveman pulled off a close-range save keeping the score level despite Lincoln remaining the stronger side.

Daniel Udoh replaced Callum Lang for Shrewsbury before they brought on another attacking option through Jason Cummings who replaced David Edwards as they attempted to get more opportunities in the Lincoln area.

However, with Town having none of the action, Lincoln were in front of goal again, this time with Neal Eardley forcing the Salop goalkeeper to keep his side in the game with a strong save.

Shrewsbury captain Norburn was the second Town player in the book for a late challenge on the counter-attacking Imps midfielder Morrell.

With the scores level and the game in added time, O'Leary was called upon again in the Shrewsbury goal, this time pulling off a save from Grant's tricky free-kick which dipped at the last minute.