Barnet: Ran Kadoch, Joe Devera, Neil Bishop (c), Albert Adomah, Max Porter, Nicky Deverdics (Ogogo, 68), Tommy Black (Bolasie, 61), Nicky Nicolau, Gary Breen, Paul Furlong, John O'Flynn (Birchill, 88)

Subs: Michael Leary, Adam Birchall, Lee Harrison, Abu Ogogo, Yannick Bolasie

Town: Luke Daniels, Darren Moss,Kelvin Langmead, Graham Coughlan (c), Neil Ashton, Chris Humphrey, Terry Dunfield, Paul Murray (Cansdell-Sherriff, 82), Steven Leslie (Pugh, 72), Richard Walker (Chadwick, 64), Grant Holt

Subs: Marc Pugh, Nick Chadwick, Ben Davies, David Hibbert, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff

Attendance: 1,568 (362 away)

Referee: Mr. A. D'Urso

First Assistant (check flag): Mr. J. Busby

Second Assistant (plain): Mr. G. Jerden

Fourth Official: Mr. J. Hayto

Martin Wild reports from Underhill

There are two changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's narrow win over Darlington. Top scorer Grant Holt returns after completing a two game suspension, and there is a debut for Terry Dunfield who joined 24 hours ago from Macclesfield Town. Ben Davies and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff are the casualties, but both make the subs bench. The formation returns to a more recognisable 4-4-2 after playing five in midfield at Bradford and Port Vale.

There was a very sparse crowd inside this tiny ground although Town fans were fairly well represented on the far terrace. The pitch was in excellent condition, and there was a familiar face in charge of proceedings with Andy D'Urso the man with the whistle.

There was an early injury scare for Town when Neil Ashton went down after an aerial challenge with Paul Furlong, but the left back quickly recovered once the magic sponge had been administered.

Barnet had a reasonable chance from a set play after eleven minutes. Darren Moss caught Nicky Nicolau, and Bees skipper Neil Bishop rose to meet Tommy Black's free-kick, but headed wide from an acute angle.

When Bishop fouled Holt five minutes later, Dunfield tried his luck from 25 yards, but his right foot shot lacked sufficient bend to test the splendidly named Ran Kadoch in the home goal.

Barnet were looking the more dangerous and Nicky Deverdics hit a shot that beat Daniels but fizzed past the post.

The home side smelled blood and two superb interceptions by centre-backs Langmead and Coughlan kept Barnet out. But in the same passage of play, John O'Flynn - scourge of Salop in the reverse fixture at the Prostar - planted a header wide when it looked easier to score.

Town were riding their luck alright, and there only looked like one side scoring. The home side had an abject home record going into this game having won only seven points from 36 available! But they were making a mockery of their lowly position with a display that had Shrews rocking defensively.

Any time the ball did go anywhere near the Barnet half, Town were invariably pulled back for offside, and this didn't lend itself as a useful aid to any attacking ambitions they may have had.

But when you have someone like Holt in your ranks, the goal threat is ever present. Ten minutes before the break he wriggled into a yard of space, and was only just wide with a left footed drive in Town's best attempt to date.

Daniels made a good stop to deny O'Flynn following a neat build-up involving the dangerous Albert Adomah and Bishop, just before the board went up showing an additional minute.

The half-time whistle sounded and it was the visitors who were more relieved to hear it.

Half-Time: 0-0

Ian Hendon and his Town counterpart resisted the temptation to make changes during the break, with Shrews now playing up the infamous Underhill slope.

Langmead went full length to clear a menacing cross from O'Flynn and then after 52 minutes, Shrewsbury finally worked the goalkeeper. Holt's cross was chested down by Steve Leslie, and the midfielder's shot was well kept out by Kadoch.

Humphrey's cross then eluded Holt who arrived a smidge too late at the back post as the Town finally found a touch of fluency.

Furlong was still feeling the after effects of that earlier challenge with Ashton, and when he came to the near touchline for treatment to a nasty looking head wound, he resembled an extra from Holby City! When he came back on with more bandages than an Egyptian mummy, he was wearing a different numbered shirt with Medley's name on the back!

Back to the action and Walker hit a tame effort straight at Kadoch, and we were still waiting for the kind of performance this team is capable of. Sadly, it has looked far less capable away from it's Shropshire home - and has done for some time.

Nick Chadwick replaced Walker but with Holt in a much deeper role, as Town had seemed to operated with a five man midfield throughout much of this game. Marc Pugh was introduced 18 minutes from time and almost immediately got in on the action. His free-kick was comfortably held by the Bees keeper though.

The better chances were still being created by the Londoners but they were less of a concern for Town's defenders in this second period. We were less of a concern - period - for the team defending the North end of Underhill.

The game entered its final fifteen minutes with the game still very much in the balance and draw specialists Town heading for yet another point. Still, after defeats at unfashionable Accrington, Morecambe and Grimsby - not to mention Blyth in the Cup - you have to be grateful for what you can get away these days.

Salop had been caught time and again in offside positions ove the course of the game. This disrupted any hopes of any rhythm and the side were far too often a token threat as a result.

Furlong was still bleeding like he'd been belted with an axe, and I was getting queasier every time he came over for treatment. Nothing a head transplant wouldn't fix!

Full-Time: 0-0