Town All Out For Victory

Turner- hoping to complete
a great first year at the club.

The final hurdle approaches this weekend with the nPower League 2 season coming to an end as Shrewsbury Town embark on what could be a promotion winning day against Oxford United tomorrow afternoon at the Greenhous Meadow.

A recent run of good results have put Shrewsbury in a good position, a point behind Wycombe Wanderers who occupy the third automatic promotion place in the table. Town were hoping that second placed Bury would do them a favour against Wycombe last weekend. However, despite going down 1-0 early on, Wycombe clawed back into the game and ended up 3-1 winners at Gigg Lane. The main priority though was for Town to get three points, and Mark Wright’s goal secured that win against Cheltenham last Saturday. The defeat for Bury means Chesterfield require just a point in their final match to clinch the League 2 title which looked inevitable anyway until Bury started a chase on the leaders.  It will certainly be a massive game for Town, who will be playing in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday as supporters anticipate an exciting day of football ahead. With Wycombe facing Southend United at home, it looks like promotion will be a tough test for Shrewsbury but the players must focus primarily on their own game before looking out for other results.  An injury-free squad will surely be a massive boost to Graham Turner, and he will have plenty of options for his team selection which will be very welcoming.   

Former Town striker Constable
looking to end Town's hopes of
promotion.

Town’s opponents Oxford United have enjoyed a satisfying season, after being promoted from the Blue Square Premier last year they have done a remarkable job.  Oxford have avoided safety by a long distance and have just missed out on the play-offs, whilst they don’t have a lot to play for, they still have a good opportunity to consolidate a top half finish. Former Town striker James Constable will be a threat and could spoil the party tomorrow against his old club. The last time the sides met was at Oxford where the home side enjoyed a 3-1 victory, a night to forget for Shrewsbury. Oxford will be tough opponents but if the Town stay disciplined and have the right mentality, then it shouldn’t be a major challenge unless they make it difficult for themselves.

Only Wycombe and Shrewsbury can claim the third automatic place so it is a two-horse race, the fact that there will be much disappointment if Salop only manage to get the play-offs shows how much the team has progressed since last year where the play-offs would have been a great achievement. It remains that way still but many fans are hoping that tomorrow will definitely be the last game of the season.  There are quite a few possible outcomes for tomorrow’s matches. If Wycombe win then it is all over regardless of Town’s result. A draw for Wycombe and a win for Shrewsbury would see Town go up, if both teams lose then Wycombe will be promoted and a loss for Wycombe followed by at least a draw for Town would see Shrewsbury playing League One football next season due to a superior goal difference. 

There will surely be a few bitter tastes if Wycombe do go up taking into consideration the goal from Wycombe’s Gareth Ainsworth that wasn’t a goal at the Meadow this year and also the late equaliser at Adam’s Park where Wycombe salvaged a point against the Town. It may be unjustified but it is all part of football and had it have happened to Town- nothing would be said about it.  No matter what, it surely will be an anxious day but with an incredible atmosphere expected to raise the decibels at the Meadow, it could just thrive the team on to that promotion we have patiently been waiting for in the last 3 or 4 years.

Tom Bradshaw has been on decent form
lately and will be looking to continue
 that on Saturday.

There are a lot of other important battles tomorrow that are happening at the bottom of the league, with Stockport already relegated after defeat last week, Barnet and Lincoln City are fighting to stay in the Football League. Barnet have to win to have any chance of staying up, as they are 2 points behind Lincoln. Barnet face Port Vale at Underhill. Since losing manager Mickey Adams, Vale have slipped down the top half of the table and realistically cannot  reach the play-offs. Due to an inferior goal difference, a draw for Lincoln and a win for Barnet would see the Imps go down.  Lincoln are also at home and they are playing Aldershot Town, a win for Lincoln would consequently relegate Barnet and City would live to fight another day.

 Another big battle is for the final play-off places available. Wycombe and Shrewsbury are both guaranteed a place in the play-offs and Accrington Stanley also have that privilege after an incredible year in which John Coleman has turned around a side fighting against extinction  due to financial difficulties  last year into a very competitive team who held Town to a stalemate last time at the Greenhous Meadow. Torquay and Stevenage, who have also survived by a mile after promotion last year, are currently in 6^th and 7^th respectively.  Gillingham are 8^th on the same points as Torquay and Stevenage, a 4-1 defeat at home to Macclesfield for the Gills last week denied them a play-off place. With Torquay and Stevenage, not definitely in the play-offs it will be an interesting battle. Gillingham have an inferior goal difference, and they face a difficult task against Chesterfield away. Torquay are up against Rotherham away whilst Stevenage take on Bury, who are already promoted, at home.

 A lot of battles commencing in different areas of the league, and it should be a hectic day of League 2 football.  Whatever the outcome, it has been a tremendous season with mainly highs and some lows, but a promotion would be a very nice way to wrap up the season in which the club has been celebrating its 125^th anniversary-a special accolade.

Jamie Smith.