Shrewsbury's season is 'Mission Accomplished'

A return to the third tier of English football for the first time in 15 years was always going to be a severe test.

That's even for a club that had secured automatic promotion in an emphatic manner with a magnificent home record.

League One football offered different challenges – not least those posed by sides established at the level for some years like Walsall, Carlisle and Leyton Orient.

They may be no bigger than Salop, but also from big-name clubs Sheffield United and Coventry.

Then there were monied opponents like Bournemouth and Swindon, who were prepared to flash the cash they apparently didn't have.

All in all, it looked like a jungle which became more treacherous once the spine of Graham Turner's side had vanished.

The departures of top scorer James Collins, midfielder Nicky Wroe, captain Ian Sharps and goalkeeper Chris Neal left massive gaps.

And, while Chris Weale's arrival ensured there was little to worry about the latter vacancy, at various times Town were found wanting at the back and upfront.

They started the season promisingly enough, with a battling defeat at Sheffield United, before taking four points from Preston and early frontrunners Tranmere.

September's comprehensive 4-1 humbling of Coventry raised hopes they could push on into the top half of the table. But it was a rare treat for the Salop faithful as goals proved hard to come by.

After being a regular scorer in League Two, Terry Gornell struggled to bridge the gap in standard and loanees Sam Winnell and Jamie Proctor looked out of their depths.

Michael Hector initially cut an impressive figure, but some error-strewn performances led to him being sent back to Reading.

And, by the time the experienced Julian Bennett was signed on loan, Shrewsbury's problems at both ends of the pitch left them residing in the bottom four.

After an 11-game winless run, the arrivals of the Sheffield Wednesday centre-half and former favourite Luke Rodgers looked to be just what the doctor ordered.

Bennett helped tighten things up at the back, and Rodgers provided a spark previously missing up front as well as a goal or two to boot.

But, sadly, Bennett's injury problems worsened and he was soon gone, while Rodgers fizzled out and was ousted by later loan signings Chris Porter and Tom Eaves.

The Bolton youngster's capture, along with those of defensive prospects Cameron Gayle and Yado Mambo, bucked the trend of Town's extensive business in the loan market.

That, on Turner's admission, had reaped far more failures than successes. Eaves, with six goals in eight games, provided firepower and presence at a crucial time.

Shrewsbury had reversed their form both sides of Christmas, losing just once in 11 games – and that at promotion-seekers Swindon on the wintriest of afternoons.

While they dropped back into the drop-zone briefly, a win over Carlisle, a superb success at Coventry which completed a notable double and a comeback win at Preston made a huge difference.

As did Turner's decision to make the most of a blank weekend in early December to take his troops to RAF Shawbury for team-building exercises.

It helped galvanise a genuine upturn in fortunes on the pitch which gathered momentum as wins appeared easier to attain away from the Greenhous Meadow.

Tranmere and Milton Keynes Dons were added to the list of scalps, although back in front of a nervous faithful they coughed and spluttered at times, and were second best when losing to Sheffield United and Orient.

But not so when they fought gamely with ten men against eventual champions Doncaster at the end of February.

David McAllister's hotly-disputed red card was rescinded on appeal, but too late to save Town from losing in agonising fashion to a last-minute goal.

Eaves' signing proved a master stroke and it was no surprise he finished the campaign getting a taste of Championship football back at his parent club.

Almost single-handedly, he bagged the crucial wins over MK Dons and Crawley.

And after his departure a final flourish – with back-to-back wins against Oldham and Portsmouth – ensured a 16th-place finish and a seven-point cushion above the drop zone.

But it wasn't always that comfortable, and Turner will know much needs to be done to move upwards.

He certainly needs to have a proven scorer and, at least, one defender of the experience and calibre of success story Darren Jones on board by August 3.

By Gwyn Griffiths