Shrewsbury Town suffered defeat away at high-flying MK Dons on Saturday afternoon.

MK had the first clear sight of goal in the 8^th minute when Daniel Harvie received the ball in plenty of space on the left flank. Harvie managed to find a shot past Matt Pennington but couldn’t beat Marko Marosi, who stuck out an arm and turned the shot onto the post. Kaine Kesler Hayden was on the follow-up but his effort was blocked by a combination of Marosi and Tom Flanagan.

Town’s first chance fell to Ryan Bowman, but the striker couldn’t create enough space for himself and his hurried effort went wide of the mark. MK took the lead straight from the resulting goal kick as Scott Twine played a perfect through ball to Mo Eisa. The host’s number ten twisted and turned before getting the ball on his right foot and slotting past Marosi in the 17^th minute.

The action died down for the next 20 minutes but there was a manic two minutes once it was revived as Salop had four chances in quick succession. The closest of these fell to Daniel Udoh, who maneuvered his body well to scissor kick George Nurse’s cross goalward and force a fantastic reaction save from Jamie Cumming.

The second half started quickly and MK doubled their lead in the 54^th minute. Tyrese Fornah collected the ball on the edge of his own penalty area before being bowled over and winded. However, play continued with Fornah still grounded and Scott Twine curled his effort home.

MK had the ball in the back of the net for a third time 12 minutes later when Harry Darling headed the ball home, but Shrewsbury’s blushes were saved by the linesman’s flag.

This was more or less the end of the action as Shrewsbury kept the hosts at bay while struggling to create a clear-cut chance of their own and the points remained in Buckinghamshire.

Teams:

MK Dons: Jamie Cumming (GK), Dean Lewington (C), Warren O’Hara, Harry Darling, Scott Twine, Mo Eisa (Connor Wickham, 81), Conor Coventry, Josh McEachran (David Kasumu, 72), Troy Parrott, Daniel Harvie, Kaine Kesler Hayden (Theo Corbeanu, 65)

Subs Not Used: Franco Ravizzoli (GK), Matt Smith, Dan Kemp, Hiram Boateng

Salop: Marko Marosi (GK), Luke Leahy, Ethan Ebanks-Landell (C) (Saikou Janneh, 46), Matthew Pennington, Tyrese Fornah, Josh Vela, Daniel Udoh (Josh Daniels, 82), Ryan Bowman, Elliott Bennett, George Nurse, Tom Flanagan

Subs Not Used: Harry Burgoyne (GK), Aaron Pierre, Shaun Whalley, Charlie Caton, Tom Bloxham

Bookings:

Ryan Bowman picked up an early booking in the 11^th minute for a foul on Harry Darling.

Tom Flanagan was booked early in the second half for dissent following MK’s second goal.

Elliott Bennett joined his teammates in the referee’s book in the 71^st minute for a foul and Josh Vela followed suit in the 78^th minute. Luke Leahy was also booked for a foul in the 90^th minute.

Officials:

Referee: Martin Coy

Assistant Referees: Scott Williams and Darren Blunden

Fourth Official: Declan Ford