Shrewsbury Town removed one monkey from their back to leave supporters hoping another will swiftly follow.

For the first time in 15 months, Town won a game in which they trailed against Notts County on Saturday.

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Accrington Stanley on December 22 2007 was the last time such a feat was achieved before Shrewsbury secured a deserved victory by the odd goal in five against the Magpies.

But, in so many ways, the real test now arrives. Time and time again, Shrewsbury have shone at the Prostar Stadium to record the highest number of home wins in English football this season.

But time and time again they have let themselves down with an away follow-up to infuriate and disappoint.

Now comes a fresh chance to right that wrong.

They will be racking up the miles in the next week, with tomorrow’s trip to Aldershot followed by an even lengthier trip to Gillingham on Saturday.

But if Town are to remain in a healthy position to pounce in the promotion race, they must now – finally – get it right on the road.

They had to overcome a sloppy start on Saturday to clinch a victory which takes them just three points off an automatic promotion spot, albeit from one game more than all of their rivals.

Notts County were to take the early lead in this encounter due to a well directed 20 yard drive from former Gary Peters target Richard Butcher, which beat Luke Daniels and nestled in the bottom corner on 17 minutes.

But the only significant surprise was that the visitors couldn’t add to that tally in the early stages.

Playing with the freedom of a side which has no promotion pressure or relegation worries, the Magpies found cracks in the home side’s armoury in the game’s first quarter.

Just before his goal, Butcher blazed over from 10 yards after Town’s defence was split open while Daniels produced a fine point blank save after Jonathan Forte was allowed the time to turn in the box.

Imperative it proved, then, that Shrewsbury found their way back on level terms within four minutes of falling behind, Moses Ashikodi bundling the ball home from close range after County had failed to deal with a vicious in-swinging free-kick from Ben Davies.

Suddenly, Shrewsbury settled and while Paul Murray had to clear a Stephen Hunt header off the line and Daniels brilliantly tipped over a powerful shot from Myles Weston, the threat from the visitors diminished.

Instead it was Shrewsbury who looked the more likely to forge ahead and a 38th minute penalty from Grant Holt, after he had been pulled back by Delroy Facey in his attempts to get on the end of a David Worrall, cross ensured exactly that.

The decision clearly infuriated County boss Ian MacParland who was sent to the stands for the fourth successive game against Shrewsbury.

The hosts continued to set the pace in the second period and Holt forced Kevin Pilkington into two smart saves with snap volleys from unlikely positions.

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff also had a couple of opportunities from his left-back position before captain old and new combined to put the game to bed on 73 minutes when a Davies free-kick was headed home by Graham Coughlan.

There was to be a nervous conclusion when Town’s defence was easily undone by a straight-forward through ball and Forte took advantage to slide past Daniels.

But Shrewsbury held on with no real late scares to get the win they desperately craved.

Now it’s all eyes on that away form.

By James Garrison