Exeter 0 Shrewsbury Town 1

Match report by James Garrison

The season may only be one week old. But that it is all it has taken for Shrewsbury Town to show they have the main attributes required of a promotion-challenging team tucked away in their locker.

The opening two Saturdays of the season couldn’t have offered a greater contrast.

Last week’s stroll to victory over Macclesfield was followed by an altogether more severe assignment at Exeter on Saturday.

But Shrewsbury passed their test - and it’s gritty1-0 wins like this which could prove the decisive factor in determining which teams are celebrating come May.

There is no escaping that Town, in the first half in particular, rode their luck.

Exeter’s players were carried through on a wave of emotion as the Devon club celebrated its first home Football League match for five years.

Playing at an impressive tempo, the hosts hit the woodwork three times in eight minutes during a first half which could prove to be one of the sternest examinations Shrewsbury face all season.

But through a combination of resilient defending and sheer good fortune, Town survived and emerged from a rocky patch to secure a notable away triumph through Paul Murray’s excellent 70th minute strike.

The victory was rightly celebrated at the full-time whistle, not least because even the most optimistic of Shrewsbury followers would have doubted whether their team’s 100 per cent record would remain intact after the opening period.

In his best performance for the club to date, on-loan goalkeeper Luke Daniels made a brilliant save to tip Ryan Harley’s free-kick onto the bar.

There was also some brave defending from Ben Herd, Marc Tierney, the excellent Mark Jackson and Kelvin Langmead, who grabbed the chance granted him by Graham Coughlan’s hamstring injury with both hands.

But Lady Luck twice shone on Shrewsbury in that opening period as Exeter cranked up the pressure, with a Richard Logan header and a Harley 20-yard drive both striking the woodwork.

In contrast, Shrewsbury managed just one chance in that opening period as they struggled to pose an attacking threat.

Ironically it was the best opening of the half and Richard Walker would have been disappointed to fire straight at City goalkeeper Paul Jones from eight yards after a poor defensive clearance landed invitingly for him.

Town did tame the home threat somewhat after the interval, limiting the hosts’ pressure before Murray supplied the match-winning moment - cutting inside and curling a left foot effort into the bottom corner from almost 25 yards.

The midfielder, still niggled by an Achilles problem, was short of his best form.

But, like so many of Simpson’s summer signings, he displayed the capability to turn a tight game in Shrewsbury’s favour even when not firing on all cylinders.

Daniels was required to make one final save when tipping another Harley free-kick, which skidded off a greasy surface, around the post as the clock ticked down to Shrewsbury’s first away triumph of 2008.

The bulk of the chances of a second goal, however, came Town’s way, Grant Holt, Kevin McIntyre and Stephen Hindmarch all spurning further opportunities to add extra gloss to the final scoreline.

But those misses proved immaterial, with the final blast of the referee’s whistle prompting joy on the terraces amongst an excellent travelling army of in excess of 400.

It was a day for substance rather than style and - inspired by a dogged showing from the defensive five including Daniels - Town responded.

They have already played better this season - and undoubtedly will in the future too.

But, on this evidence, few teams will emerge from a trip to hard done-by Exeter with three points.

It’s a result - and start to the season - to make the remainder of League Two sit up and take notice.

MATCH FACTS: 

Exeter: Jones, Tully, Seaborne, Taylor, Friend, Gill, Harley, Edwards (Panther 75), Stewart, Stansfield (McAllister 75), Logan (Basham 75) Subs - Marriott, Sercombe

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Herd, Jackson, Langmead, Tierney, Davies, McIntyre, Murray (Hibbert 80), Cansdell-Sherriff, Holt, Walker (Hindmrach 68) Subs - Garner, Moss, Humphrey. Booked: - Murray (29) - For a late challenge on Stansfield, Hindmarch (78) - For a tug on Harley.

Referee - S Hooper

Attendance - 4,916

Goal Log

0-1 - Murray (70) - Collected the ball 25 yards out and curled a left foot shot past the diving Jones and into the bottom corner.