Shrewsbury Town 1 Bristol Rovers 0: Nine-man Town hold on for superb win

A second half penalty from George Lloyd brought Shrewsbury Town a much-deserved victory as they played out the closing minutes with nine men following the dismissals of Jay Turner-Cooke and Isaac Fletcher.

A hard-fought encounter without too many clear-cut chances ultimately reached a dramatic conclusion with Lloyd’s 77 th minute spot kick followed by red cards for both Jay Turner-Cooke and Isaac Fletcher.

Shrewsbury made a strong start to the game with plenty of purpose and forward momentum.

Within the first minute Lloyd’s looping header was tipped over the bar and shortly afterwards Will Boyle’s shot was blocked during a lively goalmouth scramble.

Kian McMahon-Brown was looking a threat but could only direct his free kick into the wall from a promising position.

Shrewsbury actually registered six efforts on goal inside the first 20 minutes, whilst there was also plenty of action on the touchline with boss Gavin Cowan exchanging some choice words with opposite number Steve Evans, who later picked up a yellow card for sarcastically applauding the referee.

For all Salop’s dominance however, the game’s closest first half opportunity, when it arrived in the 25th minute, fell to Rovers.

Clinton Mola found himself with time and space inside the box to deliver a fierce low drive which flashed inches wide of the target.

It was a sign that the game had levelled out and Rovers were coming more into it but a couple of minutes before half time came the latest example of Shrewsbury somehow not getting a penalty.

Lloyd got the wrong side of Kofi Balmer and was hauled down by the Rovers defender, only for referee Ben Toner to wave it aside and, adding insult to injury, booking the Shrewsbury forward for the challenge.

Salop also made a decent start to the second half but again without making the most of it, Sam Stubbs header from a corner being comfortably gathered by Brad Young.

And then finally, after such a long wait, Shrewsbury were awarded a penalty when Boyle’s run into the area to meet a free kick was checked by Rovers substitute Joe Quigley.

Lloyd stepped up to emphatically despatch the spot kick low into the bottom corner to give Shrewsbury the lead.

Boyle and McMahon-Brown both then had efforts on target before Salop were reduced to ten men on 80 minutes due to Turner-Cooke’s dismissal following a challenge on Shaq Forde.

Things got even worse in the third minute of nine of added time when Fletcher was also sent off for a challenge on Arvin Appiah.

It was attack versus defence for the closing stages but Shrewsbury adapted superbly with Will Boyle denying Fabrizio Cavegn from the only real chance which the visitors created.

The home fans roared their team over the finish line for a crucial three points before boss Cowan orchestrated a post-match huddle in the centre circle after a nerve-jangling ending to an ultimately successful afternoon.

TOWN: Brook; Stubbs, Boyle, Ruffels; Hoole; Turner-Cooke, Sang, Berkoe; McMahon-Brown (Gray 84); Davison (Fletcher 84), Lloyd.

Not used: Gregory, Lee, Sousa, Jude-Boyd, Golding.

ROVERS: Young; James, Balmer, Kelly (Sparkes 73), Purrington; Smallwood (Quigley 57), Mola (Russell-Denny 68), Gough; Forde, Kamwa (Appiah 57), Cavegn.

Not used: Binns, Harrison, Sanyaolu.