League Cup 2nd Round
Team: Parkes, Clement, Webb, Leach, McLintock, Abbott, Thomas, Francis, Masson, Bowles, Givens
Attendance: 11,250
On 9th September 1975, the R’s travelled to Shrewsbury in a League Cup 2nd Round tie. John Roberts’ report appeared the following day:
Queen’s Park Rangers, masters of soccer subtleties were forced to wear down adventurous rivals Shrewsbury Town last night.
And manager Dave Sexton had to change tactics for the second-half. He said later: “We slowed down the build-up in the second-half. That was what won us the match.”
Shrewsbury played remarkably well for 50 minutes. They even took a deserved lead in the eighth minute and made justifiable claims for a penalty.
But once Rangers, prompted by a no-nonsense equaliser from Dave Webb, they took a more direct attitude towards this league cup second round tie. Shrewsbury were buried by First Division power.
It will be a cherished memory for the locals when they recall the splendour of their goal.
Alex McGregor pushed a splendid ball to the left for an alert Alan Tarbuck. Phil Parkes was forced to make a brilliant one-handed parry from Tarbuck’s angled shot.
The ball bounced out to Alan Durban, who pushed it back for Phil Bates to hit into the net on the turn.
Shrewsbury were sure they would get a penalty when Bates was pushed by Ron Abbott, but referee Bill Gow disagreed.
Yet they still made the most of their lead, while Rangers fiddled around with Stan Bowles especially making laborious work of their attacking moves.
Bowles had a shot well-saved by Ken Mulhearn on the half-hour. He turned in frustration, thereby missing the chance of a goal when the ball broke his way.
Later in the game, when Rangers were looking for a winner, he rallied and allowed Mulhearn to race out of goal and cover the danger.
Dave Webb equalised with a typical header from a Dave Thomas corner-kick.
Don Masson followed suit with a snap-shot from about 20-yards, following another Thomas corner, this time from the right.
Thomas himself headed the third from a Don Masson cross in the 82nd minute and three minutes from the end, Mick Leach shot the fourth from a corner by Stan Bowles.
And by this time Shrewsbury realised the difference in class.’
Rangers went on to face Charlton Athletic in the next round.
Steve Russell