Priestley Farquharson bags brace as Walsall reignite play-off push at Shrewsbury

Priestley Farquharson reignited Walsall’s play-off push as he scored a brace in a 2-1 League Two victory at Shrewsbury.

Farquharson scored in each half as the Saddlers ended their seven-game winless run and – in the process – halted the hosts’ five-game winning streak.

Both sides had early chances, but the game really sprung into life when Farquharson broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark after Aaron Pressley brought Evan Weir’s free-kick down into his path.

Aden Flint rose highest to meet Charlie Lakin’s corner as he headed wide later in the half as the visitors pressed for a second goal.

At the other end, Saddlers’ stopper Sam Hornby produced a great save from point-blank range to keep out Will Boyle.

But there was nothing he could do to stop Iwan Morgan’s fine free-kick going in, in first-half stoppage-time.

On the hour, Walsall’s Jamie Jellis blasted a volley over from inside the box.

Farquharson’s second was a carbon copy of the opener as Flint this time nodded a Weir free-kick for the defender to nod home his fifth goal of the season.

Hornby did well to deny Morgan a second with 20 minutes to go, while Boyle headed wide in the final 15 minutes before Tom Sang fired wide at death.

Shrewsbury finished the game with 10 men after Josh Ruffels was sent off late on for a high boot on Jellis.