A 55th-minute winner by Welshman Eifion Williams kept Hartlepool on top of Division Three with a superb win at Shrewsbury.

Shrews midfielder Karl Murray hit the woodwork from 35 yards in first-half stoppage time.

He then added to his own misery when his misplaced pass let in visiting striker Williams for a clear run on goal, from which he grabbed the decider.

The Hartlepool top-scorer was denied a second goal minutes from the end when another defensive lapse from Kevin Ratcliffe's side let him through.

But home keeper Ian Dunbavin pulled off a brave save to keep the home side in the hunt.

This was a third home defeat for Shrewsbury, who have now taken only six points from their last nine games.

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Shrewsbury: Dunbavin, Moss, Thompson, Redmile, Artell, Jamie Tolley, Murray, Atkins, Woan, Rodgers, Jemson. Subs: Wilding, Kendall, Lowe, Ian Stevens, Glenn Tolley.

Hartlepool: Anthony Williams, Barron, Westwood, Lee, Robinson, Clarke, Widdrington, Tinkler, Humphreys, Eifion Williams, Boyd. Subs: Provett, Richardson, Smith, Henderson, Sharp.

Referee: A Penn (W Midlands)