Ipswich in surprise loss at Shrewsbury

Press, 30 January 1984, Page 20

Ipswich in surprise loss at Shrewsbury

NZPA-Reuter London The first division aristocrat, Ipswich, was left cursing the temperate climate in the south of the country when they were knocked out of the fourth round of the English Football Association Cup on Saturday. The recent blizzards followed by a sudden thaw caused the cancellation of 15 of the 29 English and Scottish Cup ties, and Ipswich must now be wishing the snow had spread further south — at least as far as Shrewsbury. Gay Meadow has never been one of Ipswich’s favourite venues — it lost there at the same stage four years ago — and the second division strugglers produced the surprise of the round again with a merited 2-0 victory. High-flying Southampton and West Ham also suffered some embarrassing moments against second division opposition. “The Hammers,” who have lifted the treasured trophy three times in the last 20 years, scraped a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, while Southampton needed an injurytime winner to dispose of Portsmouth. Ipswich, the 1978 F.A. Cup winner, had its dreams of Wembley shattered in the seventy-second minute when a Shrewsbury teenager, Gary Hackett, latched on to a loose ball 20 metres out and lashed a swerving shot past the goalkeeper, Paul Cooper. Shrewsbury, quarter-finalist in 1979 and 1982, then made sure of its place in the fifth round draw when a substitute, Colin Robinson, added a second two minutes from time. West Ham looked poised to join Ipswich, holders Manchester United, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa on the sidelines, when they trailed Palace 1-0 with just seven minutes remaining.

But a former Palace striker, Dave Swindlehurst, who had squandered a series of giltedged offerings, saved its blushes when he headed home during a goalmouth melee. Southhampton left it even later at Portsmouth and the game was into the fourth minute of injury time when Steve Moran headed the all-import-ant winner from a Dave Armstrong cross. Tottenham, the 1981 and 1982 winner, was also some way below its best and faces a hazardous mid-week replay after being held to a goalless draw by Norwich. Nor will Everton relish its replay date with third division Gillingham tomorrow. It was also held to a 0-0 draw at home and will need to show a marked improvement if it is to avoid an ignominious defeat. Watford, in contrast, showed exactly how lowlier opposition should be handled with a comfortable 2-0 win against second division Charlton. The Scottish under-21 striker, Maurice Johnston, shot it ahead in the ninteenth minute, his twelfth goal in 14 games since his transfer from Partick Thistle, and George Reilly put the result beyond doubt midway through the second half. There were no big surprises in the Scottish Cup, though Glasgow Rangers had to come from behind to beat second division Dunfermline 2-1 at home. Glasgow Celtic, which scored twice in the opening minutes through Brian McClair, ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Berwick. English league Football Association Cup, fourth round: Charlton 0, Watford 2; Crystal Palace 1, West Ham 1; Everton 0, Gillingham 0; Oxford 2, Blackpool 1; Plymouth 2, Darlington 1; Portsmouth 0, Southampton 1;

Shrewsbury 2, Ipswich 0; Sunderland 1, Birmingham 2; Swindon 1, Blackburn 2; Tottenham 0, Norwich 0. All other scheduled matches postponed. Division one: Stoke 1, Arsenal 0. Division three: Bristol Rovers 0, Port Vale 0; Millwall 1, Hull 0; Walsall 1, Bolton 0; Wimbledon 3, Southend 2. All other scheduled matches postponed. Division four: Colchester 1, Stockport 1; Crew 1, Chester 1; Hartlepool 2, Bristol City 2; Hereford 0, Doncaster 3; Reading 0, Rochdale 0; Torquay 1, Peterborough 0. All other scheduled matches postponed. Scottish league Football Association Cup, Third round: Berwick 0, Celtic 4; Hibernian 0, East Fife 0; Meadowbank 0, St Mirren 0; Rangers 2, Dunfermline 1. All other scheduled cup matches pdostponed. Division two: Queens Park 1, East Stirling 1, (brought forward from February 25). All other scheduled matches postponed.