An end-to-end fixture ends with Salop losing out 3-2 against Crewe Alexandra.
Shrewsbury Town were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller in the final game of the 2020/21 Sky Bet League One campaign.
Town's afternoon at Gresty Road ended with David Artell's men securing a 3-2 victory. Despite Shaun Whalley and Dan Udoh pulling Salop back level from two goals down, an 86th-minute tap-in from Chris Porter was the ultimate late difference between the two sides
Just 10 minutes into the fixture, Mikael Mandron put the home side into the lead. The forward did well to drive into the box with the ball, and his powerful shot across goal nestled in the far corner of the net - giving Harry Burgoyne no chance to make a save.
Owen Dale nearly pulled the Alex two goals ahead shortly after the opener. The creative forward dribbled towards the Town box and managed to find a yard of space just inside the area. However, his low-driven shot was well saved by Town's shot-stopper and Matthew Pennington was on hand to scoop the ball away from danger.
With 22 minutes on the clock, the second goal was notched in by the Railwaymen. A defensive mistake saw the ball bouncing around the box, and Mandron made sure his effort hit the target with fierce ferocity to give Town's keeper no chance from close range.
Town found the all-important next goal to half the deficit with 34 minutes on the clock. Sean Goss' solid work in the middle allowed the midfielder to find Shaun Whalley on the edge of the box. The Salop number seven still had work to do to beat his man to have a clear-cut chance. Whalley drifted past the defender and was able to lash a shot into the roof of the net past Will Jaaskelainen.
The equaliser for Steve Cotterill's men came with three minutes left of the half. One-touch passing from Ollie Norburn and Whalley caused the Alex defence all kinds of problems. Eventually, Norburn slipped a through ball into Dan Udoh and the forward struck home a powerful first-time shot to pull Salop level.
In the second-half, chances for both sides were hard to come by. Josh Vela and Norburn both worked tirelessly in the engine room to break down the home side but were met with a strong backline. Udoh had half a chance with less than 15 minutes to go but his shot from distance didn't trouble the Alex goalkeeper.
A short time remained in the fixture but that didn't deter David Artell's men from pushing for the winner. In the 82nd minute. Burgoyne did well to palm a powerful Charlie Kirk shot onto the post but second-half substitute Chris Porter was on hand to tap home from six inches out.
The game ended with Porter's contribution securing the win for the home side.
The teams:
Alex: Will Jaaskelainen, Harry Pickering, Ryan Wintle, Donervon Daniels (Omar Beckles, 39), Tom Lowery (Oli Finney, 79), Charlie Kirk, Callum Ainley (Luke Murphy, 66), Mikael Mandron (Chris Porter, 79), Olly Lancashire (Josh Lundstram, 66), Owen Dale, Rio Adebsi.
Subs not used: Dave Richards, Omar Beckles, Anthony Evans.
Salop: Harry Burgoyne, Aaron Pierre, Sean Goss (David Edwards, 79), Shaun Whalley, Ollie Norburn, Josh Vela, Nathanael Ogbeta ( Tom Bloxham, 86), Daniel Udoh, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, David Davis, Matthew Pennington.
Subs not used: Jaden Bevan, Ro-Shaun Williams, Brad Walker, Donald Love, Harry Chapman.
Officials:
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Assistants: Matthew Parry and Richard Bartlett
Fourth Official: Marvyn Amphlett
Bookings:
No bookings.
