Huntington strike enough to edge Preston past Shrewsbury

The two teams posed for a pre-match photo together as part of the ‘Football Remembers’ celebration of the 1914 Christmas Truce match. But that friendship was out of the window once the whistle blew with a Third Round place at stake, and home keeper Thorsten Stuckmann had to be alert when James Collins cut incisively into the area and fired a fifth minute shot on target.

James Wesolowski had set up that chance with a cleverly picked pass, but was forced to leave the field after just 15 minutes after picking up a knock, with Jordan Clark getting his chance to impress on the big stage.

That knocked Mellon’s men out of their stride, and it took the hosts just a few minutes to take full advantage. As the Shrews struggled to clear their lines, Connor Goldson’s inability to get the ball away allowed Huntington to pounce, and he smashed Preston ahead from close range.

But the League Two outfit are made of stern stuff and almost bounced back with an immediate equaliser when Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro’s left wing cross caused panic in the box, the ball eventually being hacked away for a corner. Next Liam Lawrence, making a welcome return to the side after a spell on the sidelines, charged forward and managed to get a shot on target despite appearing to be fouled.

Shrewsbury certainly created their fair share of chances but the home side’s clinical finishing reflected their higher league status in the first half. But Mellon’s charges continued to press after the break, with the 644 travelling supporters roaring with approval as Woods refused to give up the ball in the centre of the park and made sure they kept on creating chances.

Bobby Grant forced a good save from Stuckmann with a free kick on the hour mark as the visitors looked to level the tie. Then Collins cut in from the left and drove in a shot that had to be hacked away off the line.

With 15 minutes remaining it looked like they would be sucker-punched again when Preston won a penalty amid chaos in the Shrews’ box, but Paul Gallagher was left red-faced when he ballooned the spot-kick high and wide into the stand.

But in the end the single goal was enough to send Simon Grayson’s men through to the Third Round.