The verdict: Ainsworth’s return ends in heartbreak for Shrewsbury Town

Gillingham mastered the dark arts, frustrating Salop before delivering a late sting. Shrewsbury were punished at the death, another example of the fine margins Gavin Cowan believes have cost his side points this season.

This was only Town’s second defeat in nine league games, and there is plenty to admire about the side Cowan is building. Salop have been competitive, shown they are capable of going toe-to-toe with opponents, but still lack, at times, the cutting edge to turn promising spells into points.

Shrewsbury enjoyed lengthy spells of possession on Saturday. Their attitude and organisation were evident, yet they could not make their pressure count. The foundations look stronger, but consistency remains the challenge.

Town showed greater purpose after the break and, having equalised, looked to have given themselves a platform to push on. Instead, their momentum was punctured late on. Will Brook stretched to reach the initial effort, but the ball came back off the crossbar and fell kindly for Andy Smith to finish.

There was always going to be an extra edge to Ainsworth’s return to the Meadow. His sudden departure in March last year, after speaking enthusiastically about the project he was building, left a sting that has yet to fade among supporters.

Many had anticipated his second return, but he left smiling after Gillingham snatched the points. For Ainsworth, it was a happy homecoming; for those who remember how his time in Shropshire ended, a bitter pill to swallow.

There was drama in the technical area, too, as words were exchanged between the dugouts. Gillingham’s grappling and gamesmanship repeatedly incensed the Salop bench, but the visitors knew where Town’s greatest threat lay and worked effectively to nullify it.

Before kick-off, Shrewsbury had scored nine goals from set pieces in League Two this season, excluding penalties - more than any other side. Gillingham had conceded seven goals from corners, the most in the division. It was an intriguing battle, but Ainsworth’s side largely came out on top.

Shrewsbury could hardly have made a worse start, falling behind inside three minutes. Conor McManus exploited space down the left before picking out Harry Waldock in the box, who finished clinically from six yards.

Salop responded, though. Their clearest threat came from a set piece, with Sam Stubbs seeing a header beaten away. But otherwise, Gillingham disrupted play and prevented Town from building sustained momentum.

Will Brook kept Shrewsbury in the contest, twice denying Ronan Hale superbly in the first half before producing another outstanding stop after the break to thwart McManus. His interventions were crucial in keeping Salop within touching distance, drawing supporters from their seats and underlining that the afternoon could have been worse.

Yet Town’s second-half response was encouraging, with Tom Sang at the heart of their best work. The midfielder linked play intelligently and showed composure in possession, with his neat footwork inside the box earning Salop a penalty.

Last season, Shrewsbury went the entire league campaign without one. Now they have won penalties in back-to-back home games. Football is a funny game.

George Lloyd converted confidently on his return after recovering from a neck injury. His effort was unquestionable, although clear-cut chances remained limited.

The goal came amid a poignant moment of unity, as supporters of both clubs paid tribute to Richard Green, who represented Shrewsbury and Gillingham before his recent passing.

Ultimately, Gillingham showed the ruthlessness Town lacked. Ainsworth had strong options on his bench, including Bradley Dack, whose delivery towards the back post struck the crossbar before the rebound fell for Smith to convert from close range, leaving Brook helpless.

It was a cruel blow after Shrewsbury’s fightback had offered hope of salvaging something. Having worked their way back into the contest, they were undone by one decisive moment - with the familiar face in the opposing dugout only adding to the sting.

But you cannot win them all, and this feels more like a bump in the road than a derailment. Shrewsbury’s recent progress has been encouraging, and their attention now turns to the FA Cup.

Cowan’s title-winning Brackley Town side also took time to find its stride. Shrewsbury endured their own slow start, but there have been encouraging signs of a team taking shape. Cup runs were another feature of Cowan’s tenure at Brackley, and Salop now will hope this next diversion proves just as rewarding.