From the Archive - Late Drama at the Meadow

For this week’s From the Archive, we are going back eight years to a time when Town were sitting unbeaten at the top of League One.  

By the time October 2017 rolled around, Paul Hurst’s first full season in Shropshire was turning into a magical one. After guiding us to safety the previous season, we had made an unbeaten start to the 2017/18 campaign and were sitting at the top of the league by the time Fleetwood visited. 

The Cod Army had experienced a mixed start to their campaign. After winning their opening three matches, they had stuttered throughout September and early October and found themselves sitting in the middle of the pack by October 21st.  

Much of Fleetwood’s early success had been built on a solid defence, with them only conceding one goal in their first four games. After a flurry of bad results, that stubbornness was on full display once again at the Croud Meadow.

Goalkeeper Alex Cairns was in fine form. Abu Ogogo and Shaun Whalley both had early efforts saved before the keeper prevented back-to-back efforts from Junior Brown to send the game into half-time goalless.  

Fleetwood came to life a little at the start of the second half, with Kyle Dempsey firing an effort just wide minutes after the whistle. Devante Cole would then also test Dean Henderson in the 55th minute, but the on-loan keeper kept the score level.  

Salop would regain control after a slow start, with Carlton Morris once again calling Cairns into action in the 66th minute, before Shaun Whalley would test him again four minutes later.  

Despite their dominance, it looked as though Town would have to settle for a point, with the clock ticking down. However, there was to be a late twist in the tale. Centre-back Toto Nsiala rose highest from a Shaun Whalley corner in the 89th minute to head home a dramatic late winner.  

It was the kind of late drama that would come to define the season, with Town going on to finish third in League One and secure two trips to Wembley.