Shrewsbury 2-1 Wrexham: Town beat arch rivals in the cross-border derby

On a cold night in Shropshire, Salop got their fifth win of the season to beat League One's big spenders and close the gap to 20th-placed Bristol Rovers to just five points. 

REPORT 

Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to his starting XI. One was enforced after Tom Bloxham's departure - George Lloyd came in for him. 

The other saw Port Vale loanee Funso Ojo come in for Jordan Shipley. After a scrappy opening 15 minutes, it was Salop who would draw first blood in the derby. 

The ball was lifted forward to Lloyd, and his intelligent knockdown found John Marquis. 

The Town skipper drove towards goal and finished brilliantly down to Arthur Okonkwo's left. 

The Croud Meadow erupted - Salop had failed to score in the last two meetings between the teams - but they led here. 

That lead lasted just six minutes, as Shrewsbury conceded a poor goal. Ryan Barnett was given too much room on the right. 

He lifted the ball to the back post, and Steven Fletcher got above Morgan Feeney to head it into the net. Wrexham played more football. 

They had 65 per cent possession in the first half, but they were not overly threatening. Both sides saw headers, which were half chances, go wide as the half drew to a close. 

Town were given a gift within the first two minutes of the resumption. Eoghan O'Connell took a heavy touch in the box, and Lloyd was quickest to the ball as the defender fouled him. 

Simon Mather pointed to the spot, and after Okonkwo saved the first effort, Marquis followed up and smashed home to enable Shrewsbury to re-take the lead. 

If you thought very little happened in the first half, then somehow, even less happened after Town took the lead. 

Shrewsbury worked hard, and they limited their opponents to very little in front of goal. Paul Mullin came on for the Red Dragons, as did Jack Marriott late on, and the visitors had a great chance to level 10 minutes from time. It was chaos in the Shrewsbury box. 

Fletcher and Mullin poked the ball towards goal, but somehow, it stayed out. 

Eight minutes were added at the end of the game, but Shrewsbury held on for a famous win.

TEAMS

Shrewsbury: Shrews: Blackman, M Feeney, J Feeney, Pierre (Nsiala 45), Hoole, Benning (Nurse 87), Ojo, Gilliead (Winchester 65), Castledine (Shipley 74), Marquis, Lloyd.

Subs not used: Savin, Stewart, Perry.

Wrexham: Okonkwo, Cleworth, O'Connell (Marriott 75), O'Connor, McClean, Cannon (Mullin 65), Rathbone (Faal 89), Fletcher, Barnett, James, Lee.

Subs not used: Howard, Dobson, Mendy, Scarr.