Tom Bayliss' third goal in seven games proved the difference as Shrewsbury took all three points back to Shropshire

Bayliss' fine run of form continued on Saturday afternoon as he netted the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark.

After receiving a lay-off from Christian Saydee, the 23-year-old curled a delicate strike into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

Fleetwood made Salop work for it throughout the game with left-back Danny Andrew hitting the crossbar on two occasions.

Shrewsbury boss Steve Cotterill opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation at Highbury Stadium, with Rekeil Pyke partnering Saydee up front.  

Marko Marosi returned to the starting line-up after recovering from a finger injury with Tom Flanagan also back following a suspension. Matt Pennington was absent with injury.

Fleetwood decided to go with a 4-2-3-1 system with Callum Morton leading the line for The Cod Army.  

The three behind the striker were Harvey Mcadam, Paddy Lane and Carlos Mendes-Gomes. 

In what was a quite opening 20 minutes, Shrewsbury had the best opportunities to make the breakthrough.  

It was Salop who created the game’s first chance when Luke Leahy managed to find Jordan Shipley just inside the box. 

He then drilled a powerful strike across goal that sailed narrowly wide. 

On the 20 minute mark Fleetwood created their first chance when they worked the ball to Harvey Macadam who was just inside the box.  

The midfielder then sent a strike towards goal but Marosi did well to parry the ball away. 

Overall, though, it was Steve Cotterill’s men, who had looked the more dangerous of the two teams. 

And they opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with Bayliss grabbing his third goal in seven games. 

First, Saydee showed bundles of strength and character to ride a number of challenges before spreading the play wide. 

And the ball eventually fell for Bayliss who, from just inside the box, curled a delicious strike into the top corner - with Pyke the man getting the assist. 

Town created a great chance to double their lead just moments later when Leahy slipped Pyke through on goal. 

The striker used his pace to latch onto the pass but goalkeeper Jay Lynch raced off his line and made an excellent stop to deny the 25-year-old.

Ten minutes before the break, Shrewsbury had another chance to double their lead. 

A brilliant cross-field ball found Shipley who then darted to the byline before cutting back a cross. 

Leahy then latched onto the ball and drilled a powerful strike over the bar from 12 yards. 

Fleetwood had the brighter start to the second half as they had two good opportunities to bring the score line back level.  

Their first came through Mendes-Gomes who received the ball from a through pass out wide and then fired the ball across goal but the opportunity went wide.  

A few minutes later Danny Andrew had a shot from distance that took a deflection, however, the chance crashed against the bar.  

With 20 minutes remaining, Fleetwood had a corner following their pressure on the Shrewsbury box.  

The set piece taker was Andrew who whipped in a dangerous cross that once again crashed against the woodwork but to no avail.  

A few minutes later Mendes-Gomes won the ball and countered quickly.  

The Fleetwood attacker took the ball around Marosi who rushed out in an attempt to win the ball however Moore came to the rescue as he made a goal line clearance. 

Shipley was millimetres away from doubling his side’s lead in the 79^th minute when he found himself with space in the Fleetwood box, but unfortunately, he could only hit the post.  

Fleetwood subjected Salop to a barrage of attacks in the final minutes of the game but the blue and amber wall held firm and all three points came home to Shropshire.

Teams  

Salop XI:   

Marosi (GK), Leahy (C), Flanagan, Moore, Winchester, Pyke (Bowman, 73), Bennett, Bayliss, Dunkley, Saydee (Street, 45), Shipley 

Unused subs:  

Burgoyne (GK), Bloxham, Caton, Bailey, O’Brien  

Fleetwood XI:   

Lynch (GK), Andrew, Mendes-Gomes (Batty, 75), Vela (C), Morton, Lane (Garner, 56), Warrington (Wiredu, 86), Rooney, Macadam (Hayes, 86), Earl, Baker 

Unused Subs:  

Stolarczyk (GK), Holgate, Johnston 

Bookings  

Yellow: Christian Saydee, Marko Marosi, Rob Street, Luke Leahy, Tom Bayliss 

             Paddy Lane, Shaun Rooney, Brendan Wiredu, Josh Vela 

Red: Shrewsbury Town physio Dan Green 

Attendance: 3,091