Michael Leary of Grimsby Town and Jake Robinson of Shrewsbury Town

Festive cheer was in short supply as Shrewsbury Town ended their pre-Christmas programme at the Prostar Stadium with a bore draw against lowly Grimsby.

An encouraging opening gave way to a lacklustre display as Shrewsbury failed to break down a side scrapping for their very future in the Football League.

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And there are few signs of much-needed creativity and spark in the final third returning to a side which looks badly short on confidence as an attacking force.

On a day when a number of their League Two rivals threw down the goal gauntlet – Burton scored six, Morecambe five, Rotherham four and Rochdale and Dagenham three – Paul Simpson’s side offered fresh concern over their own ability to kill off opponents.

Shrewsbury have now managed just 11 goals in their last 11 League games and this drab encounter with Grimsby provided a snapshot of their play over much of the last month.

Once again, Shrewsbury were largely solid at the back. The arrival of substitute Barry Conlon provided some hair-rising moments in the final 30 minutes, but Town were comfortable in chalking up a third clean sheet in four outings.

With 13 games without a clean shut-out proceeding that sequence, Shrewsbury’s defensive resilience appears to have been re-discovered and they are undoubtedly a tough team to beat at present.

But solving a problem at one end has simply created a fresh headache at the other.

Goals have become harder to come by than a new advertising deal for Tiger Woods, and this was another laboured attacking display from Shrewsbury.

“We played in fits and starts,” admitted midfielder Kevin McIntyre. “I felt we were the better side and created bits and bobs but we need to take our chances.

“There is ability in the side but we are not being ruthless enough in the final third and that’s something we need to work on.”

There was little evidence in the opening 15 minutes to suggest that Town supporters would greet the full-time whistle with boos because of a paucity of chances for their side.

In those early stages, Waide Fairhurst struck the post with a chance he fashioned for himself, Nathan Elder force Grimsby goalkeeper Nick Colgan into action and flashed an other effort just wide while McIntyre also hit the target.

But the hosts’ tempo tailed off badly, their play became predictable and Grimsby’s belief began to rise.

Shrewsbury were to have the first opportunity of the second period as Kelvin Langmead headed a McIntyre corner on target but into the hands of Colgan.

But from that moment on, it was Grimsby who carried the greater threat.

Newport-born forward Adam Proudlock would have been disappointed not to mark the return to his home county with a goal when he made only minimal contact as he slid to meet a cross from substitute Nicky Featherstone.

But then it was Conlon’s turn to cause Town’s defensive problems, rifling a 35 yard volley just past the post before firing just wide a clear chance from the edge of the box following a pull back from Jean Louis-Akpa Akpro.

Town themselves had a couple of late opportunities with skipper Graham Coughlan and returning midfielder Craig Disley both working Colgan, while Grimsby had a ‘goal’ disallowed with 10 minutes remaining – referee Andy Hall blowing up for a push before Robert Atkinson headed past David Button from a corner.

Shrewsbury were given a late lifeline with five minutes from injury time but failed to carve out a clear chance in that period.

That summed up Town on a lacklustre afternoon which continues to leave their season in a state of flux, two points off the play-offs but the same amount from 14th position.

It promises to be a defining and – with three of the next four games away – testing Christmas period.

By James Garrison