Shrewsbury Town 0 Scunthorpe 1 - Report and pictures

Boos greeted the final whistle at full-time, with the 400-strong visiting end cheering a well-earned away victory - in which they did not have to play very well.

The Iron's winning goal arrived some four minuntes into first half added time. Again the hosts were unable to deal with a set piece with defender David Mirfin flicked the cross inside the far post.

It proved a sucker punch because Shrewsbury were comfortably the better side throughout an attractive first period.

Micky Mellon's charges created much more and were easy on the eye but punished for a lack of ruthlessness.

The second period proved a concern, as Mellon sent on three strikers as substitutes but neither were able to provide inspiration to draw Salop level.

The hosts began much the better side against the League One high-fliers, Mellon's side looked much more controlled in possession and very organised against the visiting Iron.

The hosts were hugely unlucky to not take the lead inside five minutes.

Town's impressive early possession had forced a succession of corners and Shaun Whalley's left-sided delivery was met by a towering Ryan McGivern header, somehow cleared from the visitors' line by a defender on the post.

The resulting scramble had Junior Brown and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sniffing for a rebound as former Salop custodian Luke Daniels was just about on-hand to snuff out any danger.

Town were much the better side for 20 minutes, a fine period of possession resulted in Whalley being scythed over and the returning Jim O'Brien, handed the armband in the absence of Adam El-Abd, whistled a 25-yard free-kick just over the top.

The visitors arrived at Greenhous Meadow having notched 17 goals already in the league this season, but the top scorers - who were sitting second prior to kick-off - could not click into gear at all.

Paddy Madden, the League One hitman who is just return from an injury absence, threatened to hook a volley goalwards while Dutchman Kevin Van Veen struck wide at Jayson Leutwiler's near post.

But Salop enjoyed much the better of the first period and had Graham Alexander's visitors stunned in the headlights.

Livewire Josh Morris, who won the League One player of the month, threatened to spoil the mood right at the end of the half. The seven-goal winger whipped in an outrageous cross that almost tricked Leutwiler and looped inside his far post.

Duane Holmes then wasted a fine set piece opportunity but any chink in Shrewsbury's armour would have been a cruel twist at the end of a hugely positive first half of football.

Shrewsbury insisted on being the subject of their own downfall. Mellon's charges could not clear their lines and gave away another free-kick some five minutes into added time.

Morris's fine right-sided delivery was flicked on by defender David Mirfin into the far corner beyond Leutwiler. A real sucker punch.

Alexander's men were understandably boosted by the late finale to their first half and charged out of the blocks in the second period, with Charlie Goode on for Mirfin and Richie Smallwood for Holmes.

Salop were rocking and Morris almost punished them further, his unchecked run was found with a smart pass and a confident first-time finish on the turn lashed into Leutwiler's side netting.

Mellon's side responded well, firstly, a smart Louis Dodds ball released the impressive Whalley who outpaced his marker and found the byline.

Whalley fierce low cross was a good one, straight through the corridor of uncertainty between defence and goalkeeper. Unfortunately from a Salop point of view, lone front man Ebanks-Blake was agonizingly six inches behind play and unable to connect.

Just before he was substituted for Andy Mangan, Ebanks-Blake encouraged Greenhous Meadow by lashing a deflected effort just wide after more good build up down the Salop left.

For all of their second half possession, Shrewsbury were struggling to fashion a clear-cut opening and almost got punished as the Iron missed a sitter.

Substitute Smallwood burst clear down the left side and cut through the vacant Salop backline, he cut the ball back for Madden on the penalty spot but the forward could only help an effort wide when it looked easier to score.

The miss, coming with just over 20 minutes to play, burst Town into life as they switched to a 4-4-2 diamond to accommodate the returning AJ Leitch-Smith, but out an out chances remained few and far between.

Town huffed and puffed with long balls targeting a now front four, with the late addition of George Waring, but Scunthorpe were impressing in the aerial department and Shrewsbury didn't look like breaking the wall of green down.

One long ball was knocked down by the rangy Waring but Dodds's shot in a crowded penalty area was thwarted for a corner.

Shrewsbury's late challenges were best summed up by tall centre-half Olly Lancashire not making his way forward for a deep free-kick, as Leutwiler pinged it into the arms of Daniels and another home defeat.