Dan Udoh's ninth goal of the season helped Shrewsbury secure a 1-0 win over Carlisle at the Croud Meadow.

In what was a crucial game in League One, Taylor Perry and Tunmise Sobowale both had glorious chances to make the afternoon more comfortable for Town.

For Carlisle, defender Sam Lavelle twice went close only for Marko Marosi to deny him with a couple of excellent saves.

Overall, though, Town thoroughly deserved to come away with all three points - with the result seeing us move nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Team news:

Speaking before kick-off, boss Paul Hurst confirmed the decision to send off Jordan Shipley against Exeter had been upheld - with the winger now serving a three-game ban.

With Shipley out, Aiden O'Brien came into the side on the left wing with Tom Bloxham on the right and Dan Udoh up front in Town's 4-3-3 system.

There was also a change in defence where Tom Flanagan made his first start since November having recovered from a knee injury - Jason Sraha was the man to make way.

Carlisle lined up in a 3-4-1-2 system with Dan Butterworth operating in the number 10 role behind a strike force of Luke Armstrong and Jack Diamond.

Report:

The first half was one controlled by Town - with Hurst's side pushing to break the deadlock right from the off.

The opening stages saw Mal Benning, Bloxham and Tom Bayliss all send dangerous balls into the box.

Then just before the 20-minute mark, Salop had a glorious chance to open the scoring when Taylor Perry did brilliantly to win possession from the last defender.

That saw the midfielder charge through on goal. But goalkeeper Harry Lewis made an outstanding block to keep the ball out.

Town contained to push with Benning and Bayliss both seeing efforts from a distance claimed by the keeper.

And in the 40th minute, they got the goal they deserved when Udoh collected the ball in the box.

The striker did incredibly to hold the ball under pressure from three defenders before turning. And he then sent a powerful low strike into the bottom corner.

Moments later, Salop came close to a second when Morgan Feeney found Udoh who, in turn, teed up Winchester.

His shot, from 18 yards, was then brilliantly tipped around the post by Lewis.

Carlisle had offered next to nothing in terms of an attacking threat.

But in added-on time at the end of the first half, they almost got a fortuitous equaliser when a deflected strike fell kindly for Lavelle.

The defender was clearly offside. But the linesman kept his flag down with Marko Marosi then making an outstanding save to keep the ball out. 

The visitors threatened again just before the hour mark when the lively Butterworth worked himself some space in the box.

Around eight yards out, the forward then hit a powerful strike toward goal that Marosi did brilliantly to parry away.

Two minutes later Butterworth went close again when his free-kick from just outside the box sailed millimetres past the post.

In the 72nd minute, Hurst brought Jack Price on for his Town debut - with the former Sundorne School pupil replacing Carl Winchester.

Town came a whisker away from doubling their lead the clock ticked towards the 90 with Udoh producing a delicious, curling, strike from the edge of the box that sailed inches wide.

Carlisle then had a glorious chance to level when a dangerous ball into the box was met by Lavelle.

Thankfully, his header was straight at Marosi who claimed.

With the game now open, Salop had a great chance to put the result to bed when substitute Sobowale was slipped in only to see his effort blocked by Lewis.

From that point on, though, Hurst's men saw the game out to secure a deserved win.

Teams

Shrewsbury: Marosi, Feeney, Dunkley, Flanagan, Benning, Winchester (Price 72), Perry, Bayliss, Bloxham (Sobowale 85), O'Brien (Bowman 85), Udoh (Bennett 90).

Subs not used: Burgoyne, Sraha, Tulloch.

Carlisle: Lewis, Armer (Robinson 84), Lavelle, Butterworth, Ellis (Grehan 84), McGeouch (Maguire 89), Mellish, Barclay, Diamond (Gibson 73), Neal (McCalmont 73), Armstrong.

Subs not used: Breeze, Charters.

Referee: Simon Mather

Attendance: 6,721 (559 away).