Phil Parkinson can now add an FA Cup sequel to Wrexham’s Hollywood script after his side upstaged Shrewsbury in the Anglo-Welsh cross-border derby.
Tom O’Connor scored his first goal since the fourth round of last season’s competition with a deflected shot on 72 minutes that looped past Shrews goalkeeper Marko Marosi.
Parkinson hopes to draw a big team at home in the next round after the League Two side dispatched opposition from the tier above.
‘It’s a great win because it’s against one of our rivals. It wasn’t just a League One team, it was Shrewsbury.
Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham beat rivals Shrewsbury to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup
Tom O’Connor’s deflected strike on 72 minutes decided the tie and sparked wild celebrations
‘The FA Cup is part of the journey we’re on. There will be a lot of people remembering this for a long time because it’s a very important win for our fans.
‘I’d love a home tie against a big team in round four. The atmosphere at the Racecourse would be fantastic.
‘It was toe to toe, two teams on equal motivation levels and giving absolutely everything, I’m delighted we’ve come out on top. The lads completely understood what this represented. The league is key, but we’ll always embrace the FA Cup.’
Shrewsbury spurned a number of opportunities to win the game as Mal Benning hit the bar and Taylor Perry fired wide when well-placed in stoppage time.
Shrews boss Matt Taylor said: ‘The big chances we had, we didn’t take. That killer instinct at the top of the pitch is missing. We created enough chances to win three games.
O’Connor’s effort from distance ricocheted beyond helpless goalkeeper Marko Marosi
‘We’re trying to recruit No9s because if we do that and we score goals, we’re a really good team. We still need somebody at the top of the pitch.’
Shrewsbury started the better and Perry’s shot was held by Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.
The home side went close moments later when Cheyenne Dunkley’s shot deflected past the post as League Two high-flyers Wrexham survived an early scare.
The visitors failed to test goalkeeper Marosi at all in the first half as top scorer Paul Mullin’s wild effort from distance sailed harmlessly into the stand.
Shrewsbury should have taken the lead soon after, only for Tunmise Sobowale to blaze over from four yards after Jordan Shipley had delivered an excellent cross into the box.
The Shrews picked up where they left off after the break as Perry’s half-volley from the edge of the area flew a couple of yards over the bar.
Wrexham will look to go past the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 1997
Wrexham finally forced Marosi into a save when the keeper made a smart stop low to his left. Shrewsbury were then denied the opening goal by the woodwork as Benning curled a stunning effort with the outside of a boot against the bar.
The Welsh side spurned a decent chance of their own soon when but Elliot Lee was unable to keep down his first-time shot from 10 yards. However, the visitors eventually broke the deadlock on 72 minutes when O’Connor’s shot deflected in off Dunkley from Sam Dalby’s pass.
Shrewsbury threw everything at Wrexham in stoppage time and Perry somehow dragged an effort wide from eight yards. The same player then drilled narrowly off target as the visitors held on.
It was Wrexham’s first victory at the home of their rivals since April 2007 and they will now look to go beyond the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 1997.
Defeat for Shrewsbury was their first at the hands of lower-league opposition since 2012-13.
