Dean Sinclair of Grimsby Town scores to make it 2-0

Shrewsbury Town were responsible for ending League Two’s longest winless streak on Saturday.

And should this season end with anything other than a promotion party, it is an afternoon they will have cause to regret for the remainder of the campaign and beyond.

In becoming the first side to lose to Grimsby in a little under six months and 26 League matches, Town undid some of the good work they have produced in the early stages of 2010.

This was a huge opportunity missed and, while the game was far more evenly contested than the final result suggested, there is no escaping Shrewsbury found themselves on the wrong end of a nightmare scoreline at Blundell Park.

It’s not the first time Shrewsbury have struggled against the divisional stragglers this season, with their three games against the bottom two teams – Grimsby and Darlington – now yielding just a solitary point.

And, while this result is not terminal to Town’s chances of securing a play-off position – or, indeed, their hopes of a top three finish – how they respond to this dismal setback is likely to define the season.

Manager Paul Simpson probably had that in mind as he gathered his entire travelling party in a post-match huddle on the pitch.

It is a tactic Simpson has used previously, but only in the wake of positive outcomes.

Now he will be hoping the show of solidarity will be the catalyst for a much-needed reaction against leaders Rochdale next weekend.

“The law of averages tells you Grimsby were always going to get a result at some point,” said the Town boss.

“Although it’s September since their last victory, this group of players were brought together in January so it’s probably only three or four games that this group haven’t won, and they have had a few draws in there as well.

“It’s not as bad as people will want to make out but it’s still very disappointing we are the team they have gone and beaten.”

There was little sign of the depressing events which were to follow during an evenly contested opening period.

Both sides had their opportunities during that spell but the more presentable chances certainly fell Shrewsbury’s way.

Twice the movement of Jamie Cureton gave him the space to see a good sighting of Nick Colgan’s goal, but on both occasions the striker fired wide when he should have done better.

His need of a confidence boosting first goal in blue-and-amber is matched by leading scorer Dave Hibbert who has now gone eight games without finding the net and who could only fire straight at Colgan from 10 yards with his sole opportunity here.

Clear openings for Grimsby were relatively limited in the first period but the home side were given a massive boost on the stroke of half-time as Town conceded their third penalty in as many away games.

Following on from the awards at Bury and Rotherham, Kelvin Langmead was penalised for a challenge on Jean Louis Akpo-Akpro as the lively striker threatened to get away in the box.

Grimsby took full advantage of their lifeline as Dean Sinclair rifled home from the spot.

A pivotal period either side of half-time then took a further twist immediately after the interval when Kevin McIntyre spurned a golden opportunity to level the scores.

He was denied by Colgan as he produced what was an all too rare break beyond the strikers from a Town midfielder. And with that moment, Shrewsbury’s hopes swiftly went south with Grimsby regaining the momentum to score twice in seven minutes, capitalising on poor defending on both occasions.

Sincliar grabbed his and Grimsby’s second on 57 minutes after David Button had twice denied Akpo-Akpro, the rebound falling to a home player on each occasion.

Akpo-Akpro then completed the Town misery with a third shortly after, unleashing a 20-yard effort into the bottom corner after being given time and space.

Cureton and Steve Leslie were both sacrificed in the closing stages with Dutchman Benjamin van den Broek given his English football bow.

Fellow substitute Jake Robinson twice went close to salvaging a consolation late on but the damage had long been done to leave Town – and their travelling support of 246 – contemplating a major blow to their promotion aspirations.

The chance of glory still remains within reach with 11 games still to play.

But they can ill-afford another afternoon like this between now and the end of the season in May.

By James Garrison