Shrewsbury 0 MK Dons 1 - Report and pictures

Despite a sluggish start, Salop enjoyed the lion's share of the play and created a host of openings but suffered a painful setback late on.

It was substitute Abu Ogogo, last year's Player of the Season - who had been surprisingly left out for Antoni Sarcevic - who was guilty of a costly error.

He dallied in his own penalty area and after being robbed, Daniel Powell made no mistake, beating goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler at his near post.

Town's pre-season woes were often high balls into their own 18-yard box, particularly from set pieces.

Within the opening 10 minutes Dons had already threatened twice with skipper Dean Lewington nodding over and Joe Walsh heading straight at Leutwiler.

But it was an error of Leutwiler's own making as he came to clear a long ball and was robbed that nearly got Salop into trouble.

The loose ball fell to Lewington on the left touchline and the veteran defender lifted a shot from distance over the gaping Town goal.

Meanwhile, while seeing less of the opening spells of possession, the hosts were creating chances of their own.

Louis Dodds dragged a left-footed effort wide from the edge of the box after a burst through the middle.

It was Mellon's men who fashioned easily the clearest chance of the first 20 minutes.

Dodds' looping header in midfield sailed over a high Dons defensive line to put AJ Leitch-Smith in the clear.

Shrewsbury Town (4-2-3-1): Leutwiler; Riley, McGivern, El-Abd ©, Brown; Deegan, Sarcevic (Ogogo, 67); Whalley (Mangan, 75), O'Brien, Dodds; Leitch-Smith (Jones, 83)

Unused substitutes: Halstead, Sadler, Lancashire, Smith.

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Baldock, Lewington ©, Downing, Walsh; Potter, Carruthers (Rasulo, 50); Powell, Williams (Thomas Asante, 75), Upson; Maynard

The forward had plenty of fresh grass to run into but never appeared settled and was well challenged, at the final moment, before getting his shot away.

Town could not be criticised of being overly cautious in the shooting department as Gary Deegan sent a bending effort wide after winning possession.

Dodds then had the Greenhous Meadow spectators on their feet with a rasping volley that was well caught by goalkeeper David Martin.

Mellon was up in arms about the decision not to award his side a penalty midway through the half.

After fine interplay between Shaun Whalley, Leitch-Smith and Joe Riley, Whalley was played through on the inside right channel.

He burst into the area at an angle and collapsed under pressure, but referee Brendan Malone is unmoved.

Skipper Adam El-Abd was endearing himself to his new supporters with a faultless opening half with the armband.

His positional sense was obvious with a number of timely interceptions and a series of whole-hearted lunges had the Meadow on their feet in admiration.

After Dodds had again threatened from distance with a nice chest trap, swivel and volley, Town went closest yet with four minutes until the break.

Build-up involving Sarcevic eventually fell at the feet of Jim O'Brien some 30 yards from goal.

The former Barnsley man picked his spot and curled a delicious looking strike towards the top corner. Martin was beaten but so was the angle, as it flew an inch wide.

For all of Town's promising first-half work, their defensive shortcoming almost told right at the beginning of the second period.

Darren Potter had the freedom of the six-yard box to thump a header against Leutwiler's crossbar. The midfielder was well-placed with enough space to have broken the deadlock.

O'Brien was then presented with an opportunity to recreate his free-kick goal from the Hibernian friendly a week prior.

This time, his effort - despite beating the wall - is too tame and was easily claimed by Martin.

Mellon was left shaking his head after Leutwiler and El-Abd's mix-up almost cost them the cherished opening goal.

After exchanging numerous passes, Leutwiler's long clearance cannoned off Nicky Maynard and back into the shot-stopper's grateful grasp.

But with their tails up Salop continued to impress and Whalley burst into life, with his left-footed effort saved low at his near post by Martin.

There was more example of Dodds' invention moments later as, after a burst down the left flank, his outside of the right foot cross proved just a little high for Leitch-Smith on the hour mark.

Dodds then found the Salop Leisure Stand after easy on the eye interplay between Deegan and Sarcevic, the attacking midfielder unable to keep his strike down.

After looking the more likely, Town were dealt a cruel blow as the Buckinghamshire visitors snatched an unlikely lead.

It was Salop sub and Player of the Year Abu Ogogo who was caught trying to dribble out from his own penalty box.

As the ball fell at the feet of Powell, the forward beat Leutwiler at his near post.

The Swiss shot-stopper got something on the powerful strike but it proved not enough as the parry took the strike into the roof of the net.

Mellon sent on Andy Mangan to provide some support for Leitch-Smith with 15 minutes to go.

After Ed Upson had curled a free-kick over for Dons, Leitch-Smith was sacrificed for 18-year-old academy graduate Ethan Jones to make way from the bench.

Junior Brown had half a sniff at an equaliser from a long Mangan cross, but the left-back's fierce volley was blocked by a resolute Dons defence.

With plenty of late endeavour, particularly from the exciting Jones, Mellon's side were unable to force home an equaliser to hand them a point - the very least they deserved.