Match Report | Shrewsbury 2-0 Northampton

Kian McMahon-Brown marked his home debut with a goal as Shrewsbury secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Northampton.

A brilliant half-volley from McMahon-Brown combined with a Kevin Berkoe strike saw Salop run out deserved winners at the Croud Meadow.

The result could have been even more emphatic with goalkeeper Zach Jeacock making an excellent save to deny McMahon-Brown a second. 

George Lloyd and Josh Davison also saw efforts sail agonisingly wide as an impressive Salop made it back-to-back wins on home turf.

Team news:

Town lined up in a 3-4-1-2 at the Croud Meadow - with Will Brook starting in goal.

Sam Stubbs, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels made up the back three with Luca Hoole at right wing-back and Kevin Berkoe on the left.

In the middle of the park, Tom Sang was joined by Jay Turner-Cooke with Kian McMahon-Brown more advanced in the number 10 role.

Up front, Josh Davison was partnered by George Lloyd.

Northampton lined up in a 4-4-2 system with Nathaniel Opoku and Harvey Saunders in attack.

Report:

Town made a flying start at the Croud Meadow, taking the lead in the ninth minute through a superb finish from McMahon-Brown.

The Burnley loanee showed some wonderful technique after the ball fell to him around 18 yards from goal, brilliantly dispatching a half-volley into the corner and beyond the reach of Northampton goalkeeper Zach Jeacock.

Salop almost doubled their advantage moments later when Davidson drove towards goal before curling an effort agonisingly wide.

Northampton began to show their attacking threat midway through the first half, with Joe O’Brien-Wormleighton and Saunders combining well down the right. Their move ended with Saunders seeing an effort from eight yards well saved by Brook.

The Town goalkeeper was called into action again shortly afterwards, doing well to get down and smother an effort at the striker’s feet.

Cowan’s side responded positively, with McMahon-Brown seeing another effort from distance brilliantly tipped away by Jeacock before Turner-Cooke fired inches wide from 20 yards.

Salop were playing some excellent football, and Sang produced a mazy run before firing over from 25 yards as the hosts continued to push forward.

Their second goal arrived just before the break, and it was a deserved reward for an impressive first-half display.

Sang delivered a cross which Davison met with a brilliant glancing header. Jeacock looked beaten, but the goalkeeper produced a superb one-handed save to keep the ball out.

However, Berkoe reacted quickest to the rebound, ruthlessly firing home from close range to give Town a two-goal advantage at the interval.

Northampton made a change at the break, with Owen Dale replacing Logan Briggs, but Town continued to look the more threatening side.

Turner-Cooke found Lloyd with a clever pass, only for the striker to fire wide from just outside the box.

McMahon-Brown then came close to grabbing his second after collecting an excellent pass from Berkoe. The forward took the ball into his stride before drilling a low effort towards goal from an angle, around eight yards out, but Jeacock got down brilliantly to make the block.

Northampton threatened again in the 80th minute when Dale cut in from the flank and fired a low effort towards goal, forcing Brook into an excellent save.

Town were forced into a change late on with Berkoe - who had been excellent - forced off with a knock. Lino Sousa replaced him.

Michael Golding and Isaac Fletcher then replaced Davidson and McMahon-Brown late on..

Teams:

Shrewsbury: Brook, Stubbs, Boyle, Ruffels, Hoole, Sang, Turner-Cooke (Gray 74), Berkoe (Sousa 85), McMahon-Brown (Fletcher 88), Lloyd, Davison (Golding 88).

Subs not used: Proctor, Jude-Boyd, Gbode.

Northamtpon: Jeacock, Maxwell, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Guthrie, Moore, Hoskins (Chamberso 68), Fornah, Wormleighton, Opoku (Warhurst 68), Briggs (Dale 46), Saunders (Swyer 68).

Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Warhurst, Powell, Dyche.