Jubilant Staines Town seal their place in FA Cup second round

Nov 7 2009 By Tim Edwards

Ali Chaaban was the hero as Staines Town deservedly booked their place in the FA Cup second round after stunning League Two Shrewsbury Town 1-0 at the Prostar Stadium today (Saturday).

The nipper striker, known as Ali C, danced his way through two challenges before lashing home the only goal of the game after 21 minutes.

Staines were good value for their slender half time lead, winning the second balls and giving as good as they got against a lethargic and seemingly disinterested Shrewsbury side.

The hosts started the second period brightly but again went back into their shell as they ran out of ideas on how to breach Staines' watertight defence.

Chances were at a premium for both sides but both David Hibbert and Staines substitute Dean Thomas should have done better with close range headers for their respective teams. But Steve Cordery's heroes saw out five minutes of injury time to ensure the Massive are in the hat for tomorrow's televised second round draw.

Playing in all white Staines started the game brightly with the aim of unsettling the hosts with a series of full-blooded challenges. However, Darty Brown's rash challenge on Joss Labadie earned him the first yellow card of the afternoon after 12 minutes.

However, Staines kept up the momentum and took the lead after 21 minutes. Chaaban received the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box, twinkle-toed his way past two hapless Shrews defenders before stroking the ball beyond the despairing dive of Chris Neal to send the 176 away fans into ecstasy.

The hosts' response was minimal and Salop fans were clutching at straws when Jake Robinson went down in the box under the challenge of Dominic Sterling five minutes later before Louis Wells gathered David Hibbert's glancing header with ease.

Paul Simpson's men were clearly rattled, giving away possession cheaply at every opportunity, and in the rare moments they did threaten they failed to make it count – Jake Robinson heading over Lewis Neal's left wing cross at the far post after 35 minutes.

Staines dangerman Chaaban went on another jinking run down the right soon after but was stopped in his tracks this time.

Wells was down quickly to his right to gather Hibbert's daisy-cutter in the last meaningful action of the first half. The hosts were jeered off by their own fans and rightly so.

Shrews boss Simpson made one half time change with Kris Bright replacing Robinson and the hosts started the second with something they sorely lacked in the first period – urgency. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff stung Wells's fingertips from 15 yards.

Frustrations boiled over when Gareth Risbridger and Labadie squared up but both escaped with a ticking off from referee Darren Drysdale.

Jake Simpson replaced Labadie after 63 minutes as his namesake manager desperately tried to inject more cutting edge to the hosts' laboured attack. Boos again rang out around the stadium, the home fans cutting forlorn figures as their desperate side lacked ideas.

Andre Scarlett replaced Simon Jackson for the visitors with 20 minutes left and he was shortly followed onto the pitch by Dean Thomas, who replaced the tireless Richard Butler.

Harry Hooman made way for Nathan Elder just after Hibbert had put a close range header over the bar in the hosts' best chance of the second half.

However, Staines kept on plugging away and should have made the game safe in the 80^th minute but substitute Thomas could only head over Sterling's knock-back from six yards.

Scott Taylor replaced goalscorer Chaaban after 84 minutes before Staines won two corners in succession in a nervy final five minutes. The hosts were boosted by the announcement of five minutes added time but, in all honesty, they would not have scored had they been here all night.

Shrewsbury:C Neal, Coughlan, Langmead, Hibbert, Robinson (Bright, 45), Murray. Hooman (Elder, 77), L Neal, Cansdell-Sherriff, Labadie (Simpson, 63), McIntyre.

Staines: Wells, Jackson (Scarlett, 70), Sterling, Gordon, Ifura, Brown, Newton, Risbridger, Butler (Thomas, 74), Griffiths, Chaaban (Taylor, 84).

Attendance: 3,539 (176 from Staines)

Referee: D Drysdale.