Shrewsbury 1 Bury 1 - Report and pictures

Winger Abo Eisa struck a fine first half opener on his full Shrewsbury debut to give the home side a welcome lead but Town collapsed in the second half and the Shakers netted a deserved leveller.

Leaders Wigan won comfortably 4-0 at Fleetwood to secure their automatic promotion from League One.

Shrewsbury’s point was at least enough to secure third place in the third tier, meaning home advantage in the play-offs next month.

But Paul Hurst’s men have won just one in six games and the boss will be keen to improve that record in remaining games against Peterborough, Blackpool and MK Dons to inject some confidence into his side.

Town’s fate in finishing outside of League One’s top two was all-but sealed as Blackburn beat Peterborough on Thursday night, meaning Hurst had an interesting conundrum as to whether to use a full-strength team in the remaining four league games of Town’s calendar.

The boss opted to rest Jon Nolan and Shaun Whalley, regulars in Town’s stunning season - while there was a full debut for one of Shrewsbury’s January signings.

Wideman Eisa, signed from National League South Wealdstone FC on deadline day, impressed with his 45 minute appearance from the bench against Charlton earlier in the week and was rewarded with a first Football League start.

The list of three changes was completed by Bryn Morris, replacing Nolan, while Sam Jones missed out on a start and back came Omar Beckles from a one game suspension.

Hurst switched his 4-1-4-1 formation to a three-man defence. Town’s 3-4-3 set-up had Eisa and Alex Rodman either side of Carlton Morris with Max Lowe and James Bolton as wing-backs.

Shrewsbury went into the sunny Meadow clash desperate to stop already-relegated Bury from being the first side to complete a league double over Town. A disastrous midweek night in November saw Hurst’s then-table toppers topple to a 1-0 reverse against bottom side Bury in one of Lowe’s first games in charge.

The visiting boss, who spent five years a Town player, included a couple of youth graduates in his Shakers line-up, with Bury now playing for pride.

Bury showed in the opening exchanges, despite a slow pace to the game generally, they were keen to have a go. In-form forward George Miller - who had netted six times since joining on loan in January - profited from a Beckles slip, beat Mat Sadler, but was denied well by Dean Henderson.

Sadler nodded a corner over and Carlton Morris’ unselfishness delivered little reward as Town stamped their authority on to the clash.

And with 13 minutes on the clock Town ended a run of three games and almost 300 minutes without a goal.

What a moment it was for Eisa. He started 2018 as a semi-pro before his first professional deal arrived on deadline day. But the winger showed little in the way of nerves as he marked his first Football League start in the best possible way.

Taking a pass from Lowe on the halfway line, Eisa had chalk on his boost on the left flank but he turned on the afterburners and, despite Shakers’ attempts to haul him back, burst inside and lashed a 25 yard drive low beyond a hapless Joe Murphy.

The Town fans saluted a new hero.

It emerged that, as Abo opened his Football League account, brother Mo netted his 21st goal of the season in exactly the same minute for Cheltenham at Cambridge in League Two.

Confidence flooded through Town and they were making good of Bury’s inexperience on the Shakers’ right. Lowe, Eisa and C Morris were combining brilliantly and looked a threat on every break.

The home crowd were enjoying what they saw as Town looked a threat charging forward. Hurst’s men showed real hunger against the visitors lacking in quality.

The rare sight of the sun gave the clash a pre-season or end of season feel. Town were not taxed by poor opposite and the game was played, at times, at walking pace. When Shrewsbury zipped it around the park their visitors were struggling to keep up.

The clash fell into a lull around the hour mark as, with no questions being asked by a Bury side going through the motions, Town struggled to find their range of passing and the crowd let them know.

Town’s drop in tempo had them punished. Groans from the crowd to wake up hadn’t worked and, from a quick free-kick on the Shakers’ left, O’Shea was left unmarked in the Town box and had all the time in the world to smash home into the bottom corner.

The equaliser did not wake Town up. Bury looked the better side and were knitting some fine moves together. Shrewsbury were sluggish and off-pace.

Hurst had sent Thomas on for Rodman and his next move was to send Arthur Gnahoua on for goalscorer Eisa. The former Wealdstone man was offered a deserved standing ovation.

Aside from a couple of Thomas efforts, Shrewsbury had precious little to get excited about and the visitors, playing for pride, finished the game the stronger.

Shrews must aim for a better performance across 90 minutes as Posh come to town on Tuesday.

Key moments:

5 - Dean Henderson’s save from George Miller gets Omar Beckles out of jail. The returning defender misses a clearance, Miller then beat Mat Sadler, charged into the box but was denied by Henderson.

8 - Carlton Morris does well after young Ryan Cooney misjudged the flight of the ball. Tremendous, lightning footwork sees his reach the byline but a low cross misses his blue and amber team-mates.

11 - Beckles heads a Bryn Morris corner wide at the near post.

13 - GOAL TOWN! It’s Abo Eisa on his full debut. Takes a pass from Max Lowe on the left flank and charges for goal. After cutting infield some 25 yards out he drilled a ferocious low finish beyond Joe Murphy.

21 - Eisa is brimming with confidence. Twists and turns outside the box and another fierce effort blocked.

28 - Town survive as a loose Sadler pass sees Miller played in just outside Shrewsbury’s box but the on-loan Middlesbrough man lashes wide across goal.

66 - Bury goal. A quick free-kick from Harry Bunn cleverly played O’Shea in the Town area. The creative midfielder had all the time to lash a low finish into Henderson’s bottom right corner.

84 - First notable Shrewsbury effort of the second period as sub Nathan Thomas thumps a low volley inches wide from 30 yards. Had Murphy scrambling.

Teams:

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-3):

Henderson; Nsiala, Beckles, Sadler © (John-Lewis, 85); Bolton, B Morris, Godfrey, Lowe; Rodman (Thomas, 67), C Morris, Eisa (Gnahoua, 77).

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), Hendrie, Riley, Jones.

Bury (3-5-2):

Murphy; Thompson, Edwards, Shotton; Ismail, Styles, Danns ©, Cooney (Clarke, 77), O’Shea; Miller (Ince, 88), Bunn (Hanson, 67).

Subs not used: Ripley (gk), Tutte, Dai, Adams.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton

Attendance: 5,735 (112 Bury fans)

Star man - Abo Eisa. Fearless on his full debut and fine goal.

Position in the table - 3rd (83 points from 43 games)