Barnet 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 – match report

Shrewsbury Town may have suffered six League Two defeats this season. But it is hard to believe many of those would have left Graham Turner's side with a greater sense of deflation than they experienced in north London on Saturday.

Even now, some 48 hours on, Shrewsbury will be wondering how they are still hunting that elusive first victory of 2011.

Without truly hitting top gear but being effective throughout, Town enjoyed a vice-like control on proceedings at Barnet.

But just when a vital victory was within view, a costly defensive error saw two precious point frittered away.

It is fair to assume Dean Holden has enjoyed more comfortable weeks in his football career, the right-back following up an own goal against Morecambe last week with a vital mistake here.

It was difficult not to have some sympathy for Holden who, prior to his 90th minute error, had played an integral part in a strong defensive display and nullified the home side's most potent attacking threat in Mark Marshall.

But it only takes one lapse to undermine 89 minutes sterling work and Holden's failure to steer the ball to safety on the edge of his box in the final 60 seconds of normal time was to prove damaging.

The mistake was clinically capitalised on by substitute Charlie Taylor, whose toe poke past Chris Neal into the bottom corner handed Barnet a point they hadn't even begun to threaten in the second period.

On the back of a shaky run, it was a day when the result was of greater importance than the method of achieving it - boss Graham Turner admitting his side had adopted a slightly more direct approach.

And, for the much part, it was job done.

Defensively Shrewsbury were strong and reliable for all but that costly last moment, Barnet's only other effort of note coming through a 14th minute Marshall effort which didn't have the power to over-stretch Neal.

The return of Craig Disley gave Town was welcome in midfield while Tom Bradshaw's work-rate, energy, movement and enthusiasm provided a compelling case for his second man-of-the-match award in as many weeks.

It was he and strike partner James Collins who earned the deadlock breaker on 27 minutes.

Yes, the Town goal was to contain its share of fortune, but it was the pressure and work-rate of the front duo which forced Mark Hughes into a horrendous slice in to his own net as the ball bobbled around the Barnet box.

While Barnet's mis-placed passes made for an error-strewn display from the hosts, Shrewsbury were to have chances to extend their advantage.

Mark Wright drilled a 35-yard free-kick inches over the bar before the winger spurned a golden one-on-one chance to put victory beyond doubt after excellent work from Bradshaw.

Kevin McIntyre's swirling 25-yard effort was well kept out by uncertain Barnet goalkeeper Liam O'Brien, while Wright produced a left wing cross to provide substitute Matt Harrold with an instinctive headed opportunity which went fractionally

So comfortable were Shrewsbury that it seemed unlikely those missed opportunities would return to haunt Shrewsbury.

But the late twist in the tale changed the complexion of the afternoon - and made the need for victory at Accrington tomorrow night greater.

Match analysis by JAMES GARRISON