Colchester United 2-0 Shrewsbury Town: Away woes continue as first-half double sinks Salop
Shrewsbury Town’s away struggles continued as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against play-off chasing Colchester United.
Salop conceded twice in the first-half to suffer a fifth consecutive League Two defeat on the road, leaving them just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Town remain with only one away league victory this season - recorded 154 days ago at Barnet - and were unable to build on the solid point picked up in Gavin Cowan’s first game in charge the previous weekend.
Cowan made one change for his first away fixture at the helm. Sam Stubbs was ruled out with a minor knee injury and replaced by Ismeal Kabia.
Kick-off was delayed by one minute, getting underway at 3.01pm in support of the British Heart Foundation’s Every Minute Matters campaign, which has inspired more than 400,000 people to begin learning CPR.
It took just more than three minutes for Salop to find themselves behind.Rob Hunt dispossessed Kabia on the byline before Samson Tovide delivered a low cross for Will Goodwin, who had a simple finish from close range.
Salop attempted an immediate response, urged on by a loud and vocal Cowan from the dugout.
Sam Clucas saw a volley blocked before suffering a knock moments later, forcing him to be replaced by Taylor Perry in the 18th minute.
On his third consecutive appearance between the posts, Matt Cox produced a fine save to palm away Arthur Read’s low effort at full stretch. Salop were responding positively to the early setback, with George Lloyd heading over from a promising position.
However, their good work was undone in the 38th minute by a stunning left-footed strike from Read. Cox could do little as the midfielder’s effort flew into the top-right corner.
Anthony Scully tested Matt Macey with a free-kick, while Perry fired wide as Shrewsbury sought a route back into the contest.
Salop went into the break facing a mountain to climb, and Cowan introduced Iwan Morgan for the second half in search of a creative spark.
The youngster made an immediate impact, charging down Colchester goalkeeper Matt Macey, while John Marquis later headed narrowly wide.
Morgan then drew warm applause from the travelling supporters after forcing Macey into action with a curling long-range effort.
Kevin Berkoe was handed his Salop debut just after the hour mark as the visitors continued their search for a way back into the game.
Kevin Berkoe was handed his Salop debut just after the hour mark as the visitors continued their search for a route back into the game.
However, despite all their attacking intent, it never came. Morgan went narrowly close with another curling effort, but Salop were unable to threaten Macey often enough to find the net.
Colchester saw out the contest to complete their first Football League double over Shrewsbury since the 1962/63 season.
Lineup
Shrewsbury Town XI: Cox; Kabia, Hoole, Boyle, Ruffels, Benning (Berkoe, 63); Clucas (Perry, 18), Freeman (Sang, 63); Scully (Morgan, 46); Marquis, Lloyd (McDermott, 71).
Not used: Brook, Anderson.
Referee: James Oldham
Attendance: 4,932 (251 away)
