Shrewsbury Town 3 Barnet 2 - match report

So all's well that ends well – but only just.

On the afternoon the first batch of legends inducted into the Hall of Fame staged a pre-match parade, a victory befitting those past heroes was achieved.

Lionel Ainsworth's 92nd minute winner finally downed the threat of a Barnet side who, for all their defensive vulnerability, provided a vibrant attacking threat.

There is nothing quite like an injury time clincher to raise the feelgood factor.

And Ainsworth's last gasp winner, coupled with the fact Town have now won six successive games at the Greenhous Meadow and lie fourth in the League Two table, mean they depart on the testing away double header at Crawley and Rotherham with a major spring in their step.

But, while being delighted at receiving a belated birthday present in the shape of three points in the week he turned 64, Graham Turner will know there is room for improvement on Saturday's display.

Without ever hitting the heights in terms of their passing game, Town created plenty of chances to put this game to bed long before the late drama.

But, after those opportunities had gone begging, a slack 20 minutes almost undermined their efforts to secure the perfect riposte to last weekend's Southend setback.

It was a horrendous defensive mix-up – described by Turner as "bordering on a joke" – which threw the outcome back into the melting pot.

There appeared little danger when a routine clearance from Barnet goalkeeper Liam O'Brien ventured into Town territory on 69 minutes.

But a breakdown in communication saw the ball left by Ian Sharps before Shane Cansdell-Sherriff nodded a header back beyond the advancing Chris Neal, recalled over Ben Smith in one of four changes to the Town line-up.

It all left Ricky Holmes with a simple tap-in and, during Barnet's best spell of the game, Shrewsbury were pegged back by a Michael Marshall effort from just inside the box which crept through a forest of bodies and into the bottom corner with just eight minutes remaining.

But, from the wreckage of that double blow, Shrewsbury deserve credit for dipping deep into their reserves to launch a renewed push for victory.

And their ultimate reward arrived two minutes into injury time when a long free-kick from Joe Jacobson was flicked on by Marvin Morgan, parried away by O'Brien and slotted home by Ainsworth.

That such a dramatic conclusion was required hadn't looked likely at the midway point after the hosts had seized first half control.

Following a very subdued start, Shrewsbury finally got into their stride with two goals in the 14-minute run-up to the interval, Terry Gornell sending clear Matt Richards who applied a cool finish before the former Accrington frontman went from provider to scorer with a clinical strike from just inside the box.

An encouraging start to the second period saw Shrewsbury spurn plenty of promising attacking positions and one of their clearest opportunities of the afternoon when Marvin Morgan fired over from six yards.

A failure to kill the game off resulted in a nervy conclusion.

It was harder than it should have been, but this welcome victory keeps Shrewsbury firmly on track.

Match analysis by JAMES GARRISON