They may fast becoming bankers on the pools coupon, but Shrewsbury Town’s hopes of hitting the promotion jackpot today hang by a thread.

Yesterday’s seventh draw in nine attempts – and 17th of the season – neither extinguished or enhanced the play-off chances of Paul Simpson’s side.

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Indeed Easter weekend, so often dubbed the defining period in deciding the destination of footballing honours, has left more questions unresolved than answered in League Two’s Great Promotion Race.

But with just one of the top seven places seemingly up for grabs, Shrewsbury have little room for error in the closing three matches.

Town’s big problem is that they are no longer masters of their own destiny.

But somebody, somewhere must be looking down on Shrewsbury because, after an ill-timed run of one win in 11 games, there position could so easily have been worse.

Results elsewhere have certainly provided Town with crumbs of comfort during this difficult run, and further consolation has come in the shape of form – at least in terms of performance if not results.

Against Wycombe, Bury and now Rochdale, Shrewsbury have come as close in the last two weeks to replicating the promise of their early season displays as they have done at any stage in 2009.

Except for one crucial factor – the finishing touch in front of goal.

Having taken just 23 matches to crash through the 50-goal barrier in all competitions, Town have now found the net just 22 times in their last 26 outings.

And in the Easter sunshine yesterday, they had ample opportunity to put the game to bed before the half-time whistle.

Knowing they had almost reached the point of no return in terms of a play-off position pursuit, Town attacked with an urgency and purpose lacking in recent months.

A glut of chances followed with the best of them falling to defenders, Darren Moss firing wide and Kelvin Langmead over from close range.

Nick Chadwick was to have two opportunities, a half-volley just wide from one of many teasing balls from Chris Humphrey and a 20-yard shot which forced a save out of Frank Fielding when the Shrewsbury forward could have taken it on further.

And the prize for the most audacious effort of the game undoubtedly went to Grant Holt who attempted a Beckham-like lob from fully 45 yards, and was close enough to have Fielding colliding with his post after scrambling frantically to avoid embarrassment.

Town’s tempo and passing were impressive and their reward was to finally arrive three minutes after the interval when Holt served up another cracker against his former club.

It may not have matched his stunning volley in the reverse fixture at Spotland on Boxing Day but Shrewsbury’s prize asset showed excellent strength to hold off ‘Dale defender Rory McArdle and clinically dispatch his 15 yard shot into the roof of the net.

From that moment, Town’s display lost some of its fluency as Rochdale gained a foothold in the game.

Two free-kicks from Ben Davies were only just wide of the target before the visitors got back on level terms 15 minutes from time, Chris Dagnall producing an unstoppable finish from 15 yards after Graham Coughlan’s attempted clearance from Adam Le Fondre’s cross dropped perfectly for him.

Rochdale could even have snatched it at the end when substitute Lee Thorpe looped a header on to the crossbar, but defeat would have been a gross injustice on Town who are still, just about, in there fighting for a play-off berth.

By James Garrison