Peterborough United 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

A first-half wonder-goal by Marcus Maddison was the difference as Shrewsbury fell one game short of equalling their record unbeaten Football League run.

Posh proved to be one fixture too far for Paul Hurst’s men, who peppered the home goal with late pressure but could not create the opportunities needed to draw level.

As Wigan drew, Town remained at the summit of League One. But a new-look team, missing Mat Sadler and the long-term Junior Brown, fell to a first defeat.

Analysis

While Junior Brown’s damaged cruciate ligament news came as a massive blow for Town’s hopes this campaign, their bid to equal the 24-year-old unbeaten record was dealt another setback with news of Mat Sadler’s illness.

So two changes to Shrewsbury’s regular back four involved Omar Beckles and Joe Riley coming in. Riley shifted to left-back, with Beckles filling for in the middle for Sadler.

Louis Dodds was also absent, missing with a calf injury.

Otherwise Town bore the resemblance to the side that swept aside both Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Losing Brown and Sadler meant a more youthful feel to the Town starting XI. With Toto Nsiala tasked to play a major part in helping the new-look backline.

Hurst’s men looked the sharper in the early exchanges, sticking to form where the hosts were without a win in six.

While some high press and sharp combination play had Town looking good going forward, but a couple of sleepy moments at the back had the home crowd confident while Posh attacked.

Ben Godfrey was busy in the early stages, mopping up on a couple of occasions while skipper Abu Ogogo was on-hand for a crucial intervention.

The lively Marcus Maddison, playing with 10-goal Jack Marriott, seemed to be targeting James Bolton’s right flank rather than the new-look Riley left-sided berth.

Carlton Morris was involved winning header, knitting play together with Shaun Whalley and Jon Nolan combining for sharp Shrewsbury breaks down the right.

The visitors best moment of the early stages, as Nsiala’s header from a Whalley corner was blocked, led to an opening goal.

But at came at the other end, as ex-Newcastle trainee Maddison smashed in an outrageous finish.

With the wind in Town’s sails, Godfrey missed a header wide on the Town right, almost in front of Hurst’s dugout, Maddison uses the bounce to lash an outside-of-the-foot volley - assisted by the wind - that curled over and away from Henderson into the net from fully 40 yards.

The home crowd were in awe of the strike.

But Town were showing their capabilities going forward. They responded well to the 14th minute set-back and enjoyed their best chance as Morris flicked an accurate header from Whalley’s left-sided free-kick.

Town continued to threaten, with their sizeable defence posing problems to the Posh from corners.

But with Maddison and Marriott in attack, any space Town’s defence left spelt danger. Both were again denied by Henderson. While the visiting defence were on blocking duty.

Shrewsbury kept asking questions, particularly through breaks as Whalley, Nolan and Rodman looked threatening. Nolan dragged just wide before finding Bond’s grateful grasp with a volley.

Town were in uncharted waters with their run of form this season. They went in at the break behind for the first time, after being behind for 31 minutes compared to the 49 minutes they’d spent behind all season.

If the visitors were challenged with coming out with some exuberance in the second period, Whalley and Nolan’s booking within five minutes showed they were up for the fight.

But despite positive interplay up until the final third, Town were lacking the final cross or killer pass to create anything clear-cut.

Shrews showed more signs of frustration as Ogogo lunged in on his man, with Gwion Edwards testing Henderson from the ref’s advantage - the skipper was eventually booked.

All the action was via the referee’s whistle as the game got bitty with plenty of needle, allowing for few goal opportunities. Godfrey was the next to have his name taken after losing it at the referee and Peterborough man, who was down with a facial injury.

It meant for four Town bookings in 20 second-half minutes as Town had the desire to draw level but not the end product.

Hurst rolled the dice with 20 minutes remaining and sent Stefan Payne and Bryn Morris on for his full-backs Riley and Bolton.

Shrews went to a three-man defence, with Godfrey dropping into defence. The volume of players attacking now posing a new test for Posh, who were dropping deeper.

Even so, Shrewsbury were desperately struggling to fashion any sort of goalscoring opportunity as the game ebbed away. Lenell John-Lewis was sent on for Godfrey for a further threat before Rodman sent a fierce low strike from distance towards goal but Bond got down well.

John-Lewis firmly met a corner and his header was cleared off the line with seconds of the 90 left.

There was to be no late drama or heroics as the long-standing unbeaten run fell but Town remained top.

Key moments

14 - Goal. Marcus Maddison with an outrageous beauty. Sensational volley from 40 yards out on the left flank flew in over Dean Henderson.

18 - Carlton Morris’ fine header from Shaun Whalley’s free-kick is brilliantly saved by Jonathan Bond.

32 - Maddison has another ping from distance but his fierce volley is straight at Henderson.

33 - Posh top scorer Jack Marriott cuts inside Joe Riley and is denied by Henderson.

35 - Jon Nolan’s low effort from distance is only inches wide of Bond’s right post.

38 - Nolan has another go after a neat Town move. He volleys a bouncing ball from the edge of the box at Bond.

65 - A plethora of booking for Town, including to Abu Ogogo, Bem Godfrey, Whalley and Nolan meant for an extremely broken up opening to the second period.

70 - Hurst rolled the dice and sent on Stefan Payne and Bryn Morris for Joe Riley and James Bolton.

89 - Lenell John-Lewis’ header was agonozingly cleared from the line.

Teams

Peterborough United (3-4-1-2):

Bond; Taylor, Tafazolli, Da Silva Lopes, Taylor; Edwards, Baldwin (c), Doughty, Grant; Maddison (Anderson, 80); Da Silva Lopes, Marriott (Kanu, 90+5)

Subs: O’Malley (gk), Shephard, Miller, Lloyd, Chettle

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1):

Henderson; Bolton (B Morris, 70), Nsiala, Beckles, Riley (Payne, 70); Godfrey (John-Lewis, 85); Whalley, Ogogo ©, Nolan, Rodman; C Morris

Subs: MacGillivray, Shelis, Adams, Gnahoua

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 5,606 (622 Shrewsbury fans)

Star man - Toto Nsiala

Position in the table - 1st (37 points from 16 games)