Cruel for Shrews
Late controversy as League One underdogs are denied upset win
LEAGUE ONE Shrewsbury were l eft f eeli ng robbed after t he controversial decision to allow six minutes of added time because of alleged ballboy delays enabled Wolves to equalise and prevent a major FA Cup upset.
Shrewsbury, who had led their Premier League rivals 2-0 with just 15 minutes left, were stunned when the board signalled the amount of time left. Wolves, who had reduced the arrears to 2-1, were given a massive boost and saved themselves in the 93rd minute when Adama Traore’s cross was headed in by Matt Doherty.
Their manager Nuno Espirito Santo emphatically punched the air in a mixture of relief and delight but at least avoided encroaching onto the pitch, an offence which earned him an £8,000 fine at Leicester last weekend.
Shrewsbury manager Sam Ricketts asked for an explanation from the match officials and received the message back that the time was added because ballboys had been removed in the second half which had delayed the ball going back into play.
It certainly didn’t seem to the naked eye there had been any significant stoppages and the only ballboys who had left their spot were in the corner next to 1,600 boisterous Wolves fans who were accompanied by a sizeable police presence.
Ricketts said afterwards: ‘I was curious how they got six minutes. We didn’t see a physio on the pitch in the second half.
‘I’ve been told it was because the ballboys were taken away but I could see them all around the ground. Admittedly, they weren’t in the corner where all the police were but I wouldn’t leave an eightyear- old there either, where the fans are fighting among themselves.
‘If they are blaming us for that, it’s harsh. Six minutes is an awful long time and it gave the good players that Wolves have longer to score against us.’
When the board indicated the added- on segment, it gave the Wolves players a visible lift.
It was a dramatic finale to a fabulous tie. Fifty-four places divided the two teams but it rarely looked like that.
Wolves, eighth in the top flight and conquerors of Liverpool in the last round, took 34 minutes to register an effort on target.
And having survived the first half intact, Shrewsbury went for the throat.
After 47 minutes, they took the lead in fine style. Centre-forward Fej i r i Okenabirhie f e d Greg Docherty and the livewire midfielder burst into the box and lashed a finish past John Ruddy into the top corner.
The Scot, on loan from Rangers, is dubbed the Duracell Battery by Ricketts and his energy was a feature of the game all afternoon.
Wolves rallied and went close to levelling through Ruben Neves and Helder Costa but after 71 minutes, they looked sunk.
Oli Norburn was handed a note from t he Shrewsbury dug- out before he took a corner and whatever it said worked.
His inswinger was powerfully headed in by Luke Waterfall, who was part of t hen non- l eague Li ncol n’s f a mous r un to t he quarter-finals two years ago.
Shrewsbury were dreaming of a repeat of their famous 2003 giantkilling over Everton but Wolves r al l i ed when s ubsti t ut e Raul Jimenez converted an Traore centre after 75 minutes.
Shrewsbury remained dogged in the increasingly swirling wind — until the added time knocked the wind out of their sails and Traore sped down the right and delivered the perfect cross for Doherty.
Nuno, who had celebrated his 45th birthday on Friday, said: ‘You have to praise the attitude of our boys to come from 2-0 down. Spirit is very important in any dressing-room.
‘ We also scored l ate against Leicester last week. To be honest, I’d prefer not to do things that way!’
At least Ricketts can now look forward to a replay at Molineux, where he served as a player and coach at the Wolves academy.
‘I would rather have won today, the dressing room is a mixture of pride and disappointment, but I will look forward to going back to Molineux,’ he said.