Shrewsbury can head into the new League Two season in good heart after an encouraging 2-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers in their final pre-season friendly.

Town were the better side for much of the game with goals from Matt Harrold and Benjamin van den Broek enough to secure the win.

And the result left Town boss Graham Turner eagerly anticipating Saturday’s opening game at home to Bradford City.

“Overall when you look at the 90 minutes there was plenty of encouragement for us to hope that we’re going to have a good season and there were one or two good individual performances so we’ve got to be pleased with that,” he said.

“I think the essence of a good side and having a good season is having competition for places and I think we’ve accumulated enough to do that now.”

Town certainly started well against Tranmere and should have been in front as early as the sixth minute when Steven Leslie pulled the ball back to Craig Disley but his right foot effort was well saved by Tranmere keeper Gunnar Nielsen.

The hosts continued to press and Jake Robinson was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to open the scoring after a suicidal back pass by Rovers left back Aaron Cresswell left him in acres of space inside the penalty area but Robinson could only drag his shot wide.

Tranmere threatened little with centre back Nick Wood having their best opportunity but he headed over after Shrewsbury stopper Chris Neal failed to claim a corner.

It came as no surprise when Town took the lead in first half stoppage time through Dave Harrold. The summer signing from Wycombe started the move with a smart piece of chest control on half way before finding Leslie. The winger’s shot was well saved by Neilson but Harrold was on hand to tap home.

A flurry of substitutions disrupted the start of the second half but it was Town who looked more likely to add to their lead.

First, Robinson tested Neilson before Harrold came close with a header and then saw a well struck effort saved by the keeper.

And Town were made to pay for missing those chances as the visitors levelled. Ian Thomas-Moore had already twice gone close before Cresswell curled a sumptuous left footed 20-yard free kick into the top right hand corner.

Despite that setback Town replied almost immediately. The impressive Mat Sadler crossed from the left and Dutch substitute van den Broek found himself in acres of space to drive in the winner.

By ALEX JAMES