ShrewsTRUST Man of the Match
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Town: David Button, Dean Holden, Joe Skarz, Graham Coughlan (c), Terry Dunfield (Paul Murray 60), Dave Hibbert (Kris Bright 77), Jamie Cureton (Benjamin Van Den Broek 60), Jake Simpson, Lewis Neal, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Kevin McIntyre

Subs: Steve Leslie, Harry Hooman, Chris Neal, Tom Bradshaw

Notts County: Kasper Schmeichel, Mike Edwards, Graham Lee, Ricky Ravenhill (c), Lee Hughes, Neal Bishop, Ben Davies, Jamie Clapham, Stephen Hunt, Luke Rodgers (Matt Hamshaw 83), Craig Westcarr (Karl Hawley 70)

Subs: Russell Hoult, Sean Canhan, , Ben Fairclough, Delroy Facey, Ade Akinbiyi

Referee: Danny McDermid (Middlesex)
Assistant Referee (yellow): P Marsden
Assistant Referee (plain): W Smallwood
Fourth Official: R Bartlett

Attendance: 6287 (1258)

Town are forced into a change in defence with Kelvin Langmead missing with a rib problem so in comes Graham Coughlan in a straight swap at the heart of defence and captain.

Town looked up for it from the start and took the game to the visitors, Jake Simpson had tested Schmeichel in the County net within 30 seconds but a minute later he hit a superb first time volley from just outside the box that Schmeichel did well to keep out.

At the other end County were looking a real handful with willing runners and dangerous forwards.Button was called up on to make a couple of good tip overs and Lee Hughes found a good sight of goal but Coughlan had done enough to make him shoot wide.

The game was a little heated at times and this was set right from the start after Luke Rodgers was booked with less than 5 minutes on the clock after a set too with Kevin McIntyre.The tackles weren't dirty but there seemed to be a little edge to the game which was making for a decent atmosphere in the Prostar.

With 30 minutes on the clock County were having the better of the chances but Town were digging in and holding strong.Dave Button was having another good game in the Town net and he had to be at his best when Neal Bishop drove in a vicious first time volley but Button was equal to it with a brilliant reaction save.

County grabbed the lead with 35 minutes on the clock when a quick break saw them move the ball quickly across their forward line, the ball went through Rodgers to Lee Hughes, he let the ball run into the back post to find Ben Davies unmarked, he took a touch to steady him and then drove a low shot in which Button got a hand to but the power of the shoot took the ball through and into the goal.

Half-time: 0-1

Town had the wind behind them in the second half and it was a strong one blowing from the South to North.The home side were looking to use this to their advantage with Dave Button getting some massive kicks downfield, causing Schmeichel to back peddle on a number of occasions.

Another of Button's clearances gave Town a good chance to go level with 10 minutes on the clock.The ball was sent downfield and bounced in behind the County defence to find Cureton, he waited for the ball to drop and then lifted the ball over Schmeichel but it dropped agonisingly inches wide of the target.,

Moments later Cureton went close to opening his Town account when he drove in a great shot that took a deflection to keep it out of the County net.That was though to be Cureton's last attempt as he was replaced in a double substitution that saw Van Den Broek and Murray come on to replace Cureton and Dunfield.

It was still a battling game with 15 minutes on the clock with both sides looking to get forward when they could in the swirling wind.Town were looking to get at the County goal when they could and were achieving this on a number of occasions.As had been the story for a lot of the season they just needed that little spark or bit of luck in the penalty area.

The officials held up an extra 5 minutes of time to play and Town continued to push for the equaliser.Bright was now on for Hibbert and he was trying his best to hold to ball up and allow Town to build, he did this well and then laid it off to set-up Murray who drove in a great looking shot but it flew whiskers wide of the mark.

Full-time: 0-1