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Match Summary David Moyes rung the changes after Wednesday's débâcle against Manchester City, with five players being rotated due to injury, and the ravages of flu that have been sweeping through the Everton camp.David Unsworth returned from a cruel four-match suspension, with Watson presumably injured, and Pistone allegedly being "saved" prior to an imminent transfer out... Gemmill and Carsley started in midfield (with Alexandersson, Li Tie, Pembridge and McLeod all on the bench); Radzinski and Rooney started together with Campbell out injured; and Peter Clarke, back for a couple of months from his loan spell at Blackpool, finally got a game in the first-team defence, filling in for the injured Yobo. Shrewsbury captain Jemson was the first to take a pot-shot at goal, but well wide and they soon had a corner that Wright was forced to punch away. Everton pressed in return, and Radzinski went close with his first shot of the game. But the Shrews were back with a free kick that forced Wright into an excellent "world-class" save. Pressure form Shrewsbury continued, with Woan shooting wide but Everton responded with a good break, Radzinski's shot being saved, then Carsley got around the keeper but contrived to shoot over as the game got going with both sides attacking. As the first half developed, it became clear that the Shrews were, not surprisingly, going to have a real go at Everton, with Richard Wright having to make a number of key saves. But Everton were not completely overrun, managing a number of good breaks of their own, although palpably unable to make the final ball count. Gravesen then gave away a silly free-kick, fouling someone on the edge of the box and it was Jemson who fired in a superb free kick, curling it around the wall. Richard Wright got his fingertips to it but it was not enough to prevent the Shrews from drawing first blood, and taking in a vital half-time lead. Obviously livid with Gravesen, David Moyes dragged him off at half-time and put Alexandersson in his place. Shrewsbury then claimed a penalty for what was elsewhere described as a blatant dive. Nothing given by the ref. Naysmith then played a key role in getting the ball to Gemmill who played in Alexandersson and the much-maligned Swede finished with a superbly taken shot, under the goalie and in off the post. Steve Dunn, however, was doing his best to give everything to Shrewsbury, awarding another threatening free-kick to the home side, which Jemson fired just wide of Richard Wright's post. Despite this, Shrewsbury were starting to tire after throwing everything at Everton. Alexandersson nearly scored again, with his shot going right across the face of the goal and missing the far post. Radzinski then burst through and tried to set up Li Tie, who had just come on for Gemmill, but the Chinaman could not connect with what would have been a sitter. Wright then saved again, and Rooney got in the action at the other end, firing just over as the game seemed destined to go to a lucrative replay at Goodison Park for the plucky Shrews. But, with a minute of regular time to go, it was fairy-tale time for the Shrews and utter humiliation for high-flying Everton. Another free kick in a dangerous position and Jemson yet again became the hero as Woan fired in another superb free-kick into a crowd of players scrambling in the Everton box. It was Jemson who got his head to it, nodding it past Richard Wright in the 90th minute. Just 2 minutes of added time were left and Everton were well and truly undone. Li Tie was away into the Shrewsbury area and crudely dragged down, but Steve Dunn was never going to give Everton a penalty, no matter how blatant the foul. So, Shrewsbury, seventh from bottom in the Third Division, beat Everton, fifth in the Premiership. Another great upset to add to the romantic history of football's greatest competition. Footnote: At the end of the 2002-03 Season, Shrewsbury — under
the management of ex-Blue, Kevin Ratcliffe — finished at the bottom of
Division Three and lost their Nationwide League status. |
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| Match Facts | |||||
| Shrewsbury
Town (4-4-2) Blue & orange shirts, blue shirts, blue socks |
Everton (4-4-2) White shirts, white shirts, white socks |
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Manchester City (H)
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