Bury 1-0 Shrewsbury

Bury top scorer Ryan Lowe lifted his side back into the League Two play-off zone as he hit the only goal of the game to beat former club Shrewsbury.

Lowe, who has now hit 15 goals this season, had not scored in four games since New Year's Day.

But he came up with a classic poacher's strike six minutes before the break.

Mike Jones' 18-yard shot came back off the underside of the bar and, although keeper Ben Smith blocked his first effort, Lowe was sharpest to react.

Smith thwarted Nicky Ajose just after the break but the visitors gradually came into it as they worked hard to avoid a second away defeat in four days.

Captain Ian Sharps had a shot cleared off the line, James Collins turned over a Mark Wright free-kick and Mat Sadler fired over from 20 yards.

But Jones and Ajose went closest to sealing victory for the Shakers late on.

Both sides had good claims for penalties in the second half.

Bury keeper Cameron swung a wild fist trying to clear the ball and flattened Town substitute Matt Harrold.

And, at the other end, the ball also clearly made contact with Sadler's outstretched arm.

But Bury hung on to record their first win seven games, as they climbed above Shrewsbury into fifth.

Shrewsbury Town manager Graham Turner told BBC Radio Shropshire:

"The first half was disappointing. We were too rigid. The players we've got have the ability to pass the ball, but they just didn't.

"We changed the formation in the second half, and Matt Harrold made a difference when he came on with his aggression and physique.

"We had a couple of penalty appeals - one when the ball was heading for Harrold's head and there was no doubt a fist went up.

"It's been a difficult period for us, but our second half performance was decent and we might've got something out of it."

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