Accrington Stanley: Alan Martin, Darran Kempson, Andrew Procter (c), John Miles, Luke Joyce, Robert Grant, Phil Edwards, Jimmy Ryan, Dean Winnard, Sean McConville (Kee, 59), Michael Symes

Subs: Ian Dunbavin, Chris Turner, Peter Murphy, Gary King, Paul Mullin, Billy Kee, Leam Richardson

Goal: Symes 68

Town: Steve Phillips, Dean Holden, Graham Coughlan (c), Craig Disley (McIntyre, 79), Kelvin Langmead, Dave Hibbert (Bright, 84), Nathan Elder (Robinson, 79), Paul Murray, Steve Leslie, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Joss Labadie

Subs: Jake Robinson, Kris Bright, Andre Gray, Jake Simpson, Andreas Arestidou, Lewis Neal, Kevin McIntyre

Goals: Leslie (pen) 17, Langmead 50, Hibbert 82

Attendance: 1,447

Referee: J Moss
Assistants: P Davison & S Duncan
Fourth Official: R Johnson

Martin Wild reports from the Crown Ground

Paul Simpson makes an enforced change to the starting eleven with Steve Phillips coming in to replace the injured Chris Neal in goal. Namesake Lewis returns from injury to line-up amongst the substitutes.

The sun was shining as Stanley got the game under way, but there had been sporadic cloud bursts in the build-up to the game, and the dark clouds were still clearly visible over the Lancashire hills - so much so, that the floodlights were on from the outset.

Town had a really good chance to forge ahead with less than 90 seconds on the clock. Steve Leslie cleverly rolled ex-Shrew Jimmy Ryan to reach the by-line. His cross was inviting enough but eluded everyone with Kelvin Langmead the closest man to it.

Another former Town man - Michael Symes - then played a neat ball through for Sean McConville, but Phillips had read the situation and smothered well at the striker's feet. Only poor control in a dangerous position moments later, denied McConville an even clearer route to goal.

Both teams had come out of the blocks really quickly in an end-to-end contest, and when Leslie once more showed Ryan a clean pear of heels, Dave Hibbert wasn't able to capitalise, and another passable opportunity went begging - and all this with only six minutes played!

On seventeen minutes Town won a penalty. Graham Coughlan launched the ball forward, and Dean Winnard had his arms around Hibbert in the same kind of fashion that Steve Irwin used to have his around a crocodile. The referee may have upset the locals with the award but all bias put to one side, it was a stone-waller. Despite the Ultra's best efforts, Leslie was unfazed from 12 yards and found the bottom left corner with Alan Martin diving to the opposite side.

Town were looking full value for this early lead with Leslie in particular showing really well down the left. Surprisingly, the task of keeping the number eighteen in check, had fallen to young Ryan who is more recognisable as an attacking midfielder. John Coleman soon recognised Ryan's shortcomings and he was moved to a more recognisable - and definitely more comfortable - central role.

Accrington were perhaps less of an attacking threat on the evidence seen so far, but Phillips still had to go down smartly to grab Robert Grant's long ranger after 26 minutes.

Shrewsbury were arguably playing some of their best football of the season, and a really nice move involving Hibbert and Craig Disley, deserved better than to see the midfielder's shot on goal blocked.

The referee waved away a more muted appeal for a penalty when yet another former Town man - Darren Kempson - tangled with Hibbert, with the striker looking favourite to get there before the centre-back.

Hibbert was enjoying himself leading the Town attack and when he played in Nathan Elder with a fabulous defence-splitting pass, the summer signing ought to have made it two-nil. His shot lacked sufficient pace and direction though, to go in the shots on target column.

In truth, Town's dominance could have had the points banked already, with still ten minutes to go before the break. The hosts were having a thin time of it and Salop were carving open their back four at will, with some incisive passing and good movement off the ball.

The earlier tactical switch had certainly taken the pressure off an over-worked home defence, and allowed Accrington to enjoy a little bit more possession than they had experienced early doors. But at half-time, it was the small but loyal band of

Town followers away to our right, who had the greater cause for celebration.

Half-Time: 0-1

Stanley won a quick corner on the resumption, and Langmead saved the day with a goal-line clearance to deny McConville.

The home side were already more menacing than they had been in the entire opening period, when only an away win looked the likely outcome. John Miles was running at the visitors defence and some desperate defending was called for.

Then came a vital lifeline just five minutes in to ease the pressure. Kempson needlessly conceded a corner and as Leslie swung the ball deep to the back post, Langmead rose highest amongst a posse of waiting Town players to plant the header firmly past Martin in the home goal.

It was slightly against the run of play on the balance of the early second half showing, but it put the Shrews in a very commanding position indeed. Disley's ball to Hibbert soon after came close to making it three, but Martin went full stretch to keep the home side in it, and in the process denied the lively Hibbert a fourth goal of the season.

Billy Kee replaced McConville just before the hour, as Coleman looked to salvage something from the game. Before the match, his charges had posted just three points from a possible twelve, and there didn't look to be too much on for his men this afternoon either. Had Labadie's ball across the goal been anticipated, there would surely have been a third Town goal to celebrate.

Stanley's fans in this very tiny crowd were trying to rally their side, but still Town poured forward at every opportunity with Elder's header the latest to test Martin.

As so often happens in this game, an ex-player came back to register against his former employers. Symes - making his first full start of the season - struck home from the edge of the box via the underside of the crossbar, to completely change the complexion of this game. Until the 68th minute strike, this was a walk in the park for Simmo's side. They had dominated every area of the field and yet their comfortable lead was now merely a single goal.

Grant then stung the palms of Phillips with a well directed long ranger, and suddenly the team in red were beginning to finally impose themselves on the game, leaving those of a Shrewsbury persuasion chewing on their finger nails.

Grant had found a new lease of life with the deficit now halved, and struck the base of a post from a very tight angle after Miles had wreaked some havoc on Town's right hand side.

Goodness me, how goals change games. For over an hour, Accy were never really in contention - now they were buzzing and causing all kinds of problems. Graham Coughlan popped up in the right place at the right time as rival skipper Andrew Procter looked well set to level.

Simpson made a double change with just over ten minutes left. Off came Elder and Disley with Jake Robinson and Kevin McIntyre entering the fray.

Almost immediately Town increased their lead. Leslie crossed and marksman Hibbert superbly cushioned the ball away from the challenge of a defender before deftly chipping in the third, and possibly, match winning goal.

Having weathered fifteen minutes of intense home pressure, Hibbert's timely intervention was exactly what was required. When he left the pitch two minutes later, the warm applause form the away terrace was richly deserved - with Kris Bright coming on for a brief run-out.

Robinson's cross was met by Leslie coming in at the back post as Salop started to impose themselves again, and Stanley were standing on the cusp of a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

A first win for Town since the opening day, and save for a purple patch for the home side which encompassed about quarter of an hour of the whole ninety, this was a much needed - and ultimately comfortable - three points haul from the Red Rose County.

Full-Time: 1-3

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