Brackley Town 2 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report and pictures

Two first-half goals were enough for the victory, with Alex Rodman bagging a goal late on for the visitors.

Wet conditions at St James Park meant for a lively surface, with Town’s National League North hosts giving as good as they got inside 20 minutes.

Town shot-stopper Dean Henderson, signed on loan from Manchester United, faced a number of high crosses on his Town debut.

James Armson smashed wide from distance after Zak Jules lost out in an aerial battle.

And the hosts deservedly broke the deadlock 28 minutes in. Ex-AFC Telford man Andy Brown’s flick freed Ndlovu who finished well beyond Henderson.

The lead should have been doubled seconds later but this time Henderson denied James Armson well after a Christos Shelis slip.

Armson was through again kept out by Henderson as the home side enjoyed themselves in the first period.

The hosts doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as Armson crept in at near post from a corner to flick home.

Half-time sub Lenell John-Lewis headed over the top from the lively Dan James' cross.

Alex Rodman's shot was blocked when well-placed from Callum Roberts' centre before James struck wide from distance.

With 12 minutes to play the winger then halved the deficit with a fine strike, picking out the top corner from 20-yards.

Jon Nolan threatened an equaliser when his well-struck volley flew wide of Danny Lewis' post.

Teams:

Shrewsbury first-half XI: Henderson; Sears, Shelis, Jules, Brown; B Morris, Ogogo; Whalley, McAtee, Gnahoua; Dodds

Shrewsbury second-half XI: MacGillivray; Shelis, Nsiala, Jules (Hughes, 73), Roberts; Adams, Gallagher; James, Nolan, Rodman; John-Lewis