By Robert Jones
SHREWSBURY Town come away with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Bristol Rovers, in a contest lacking severe quality at the Memorial Stadium.
The defeat leaves the Gas in 14th place after suffering yet another home defeat, while the visiting Shrewsbury claim their 10th win of the EFL League One championship, one less than today’s opponents.
After a quiet opening to the game, Shrewsbury sprung into action with Josh Vela dragging his long range effort into the path of Ethan Banks-Landell, who swiveled on the turn and fired a shot that was saved by the left foot of Rovers keeper Jamal Blackman.
Seven minutes later, it was the visiting side once again on the front foot, with winger Vela delivering a tame cross into the hands of Blackman.
Shrewsbury continued to mount pressure onto the home side, as Josh Laurent received the ball just inside the Bristol penalty area, but could only find the safe gloves of the Gas keeper.
As the home crowd became more anxious, Rovers reacted in timely fashion with a counter attack led by Jack Ginnelly.
The winger broke from midfield, before finding Jayden Mitchell-Lawson who cut inside the visitors defense only to slice his effort wide.
As the halftime break approached, Shrewsbury had one last flurry when Laurent’s trickery on the right side produced a multitude of efforts on goal. He laid the ball into Banks-Landell, who then found Jason Cummings for a first time shot.
The Shrewsbury winger’s attempt was well blocked by Tony Craig, but the rebound fell to Vela who hit a driving volley that was brilliantly kept out by Blackman.
The home side started the second half on the front foot, much to the fans delight, when Liam Sercombe’s cross was headed towards the top corner by captain Ollie Clarke.
Shrewsbury keeper Max O’Leary seemed to be struggling to make up the ground needed, but did so just in the time to keep the scores level.
A win for the away side would reduce their opponents advantage in the standings to only one point, and after a wasted opportunity from the frustrated figure of Cummings, they took a deserved lead moments later.
The breakthrough came with twenty minutes remaining, when another counter attack saw Daniel Oduh finally get the better of Blackman with a low driven shot.
Rovers tried their best to find an equaliser in the closing stages, but like much of the game, they lacked any quality in the final third to truly worry the Shrewsbury defence.
Instead, it was the visitors who looked more likely to get a second, and came close when Callum Lang found the side-netting with a right-footed effort.
When the full time whistle blew, a chorus of boos rang around the Memorial Stadium, in what was a disappointing game for the Rovers faithful.
