City kicked off the game but it was Shrewsbury who had the early impetus and won the game’s first corner but they wasted it and it ended up turning into a goal kick for City. Stallard tried to pick out Forrester on the break but Burton prevented the ball finding it’s way to Forrester. Burton then stopped play for a few minutes as he went down with a head injury.

City won a corner but it was wasted as Beevers apparently fouled Shrewsbury keeper, Ryan Esson. The Imps’ defender did however prove vital to the Imps minutes last when Asamoah picked out Drummond and only a last ditch tackle from the defender prevented the former Chester midfielder breaking through 1 on 1. However, Shrewsbury did get a goalscoring opportunity soon after as Ben Herd headed goalwards but Marriott saved relatively comfortably.

The game’s first debating point came when Derek Asamoah was through 1-on-1 with Marriott but Adie Moses tackled from behind and put the ball out for a corner but Asamoah’s familiar diving antics saw the home fans claiming for a penalty but the referee had already decided on a penalty. Moses had to receive treatment after being injured making the tackle.

City were second best pretty much up until this point as an eager Shrewsbury squad restricted City’s play to the long ball and the hosts seemed destined to take the lead when Burton’s cross along the 6 yard line found Ben Davies at the back post and with the goal open in front of him, he could only send his shot wide of the target.

On the half hour mark came as the Imps’ put together their first passing move together. After passing the ball around in midfield, Jamie Forrester played a slide ball through to Lee Frecklington who ran into the box and hit the ball past Esson and into the net for his 2^nd league goal of the season and to give the Imps a lead that they didn’t deserve.

Asamoah then proceded to waste a good chance for Shrewsbury as he belted the ball well over the bar from close range before Asamoah again went on his diving antics as he tried to win a penalty. However, Ben Davies did win a penalty for Shrewsbury with a few minutes of the first half remaining when the attacker ran through 1-on-1 with Marriott and despite Marriott pushing the ball out for a corner, he also appeared to clip the player and the referee awarded a penalty. Davies stepped up to take the penalty himself but he hit the ball against the bar and it came back out for eventually went out for a goalkick. That was the final action of the first half.

Edwards replaced Burton for the hosts at half time but the second half didn’t start well for the Shrews. They kicked off the game but the kick back to a defender was under-hit and Jamie Forrester intercepted but he also played it straight to a Shrewsbury player. Eaden had the second half’s first opportunity when the ball fell to Eaden on the edge of the area but he could only shoot well wide.

Drummond headed wide for the hosts before Andy Cooke wasted a good chance for the hosts when he headed wide from close range. Frecklington came close to doubling the lead but he could only volley Stallard’s lay off over the goal. Paul Mayo then made a vital interception as he put an Asamoah cross out for a corner when there were several Shrews waiting to pounce.

Stallard then wasted a good chance for the Imps as a suspiciously looking offside Forrester cross the ball to him and he had time to get it down and shoot, but all he could do was sent a looping header well over the bar and it went down a wasted chance for the Imps.

The game slowed down to a tiresome rate with both sides running out of energy but Beevers came close with a header from Hughes’ corner with about 10 minutes to go. Ryan came on for City, replacing Jamie Forrester whereas Humprey replaced Herd for Shrewsbury. Stallard had another chance to extend the lead when he found himself 1-on-1 with Esson but he tried to curl his shot and it went straight into Esson’s arms.

Marriott saved well from Asamoah to keep the former Imps out and then smothering the ball at his feet before Amoo replaced Eaden. That was the final action of the game and City moved up to second.

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