Accrington Stanley recorded an important victory in their battle against the drop with a 1-0 win over promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town.
Aaron Pressley had said he wanted to add to his goal tally – and he scored his fourth goal since signing on loan in January from Brentford in the 13th minute to secure a first win in six league games for Stanley.
The Reds also hit the woodwork as did Shrewsbury as John Coleman’s men held on for a welcome clean sheet and moved out of the bottom four.
Seamus Conneely returned to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Liam Coyle while Harvey Rodgers was also back after illness.
Stanley started well, Rodgers heading wide although Lukas Jensen denied Christian Saydee at the other end.
The Reds opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Ros Longelo’s cross from the right found Pressley who got in front of his markers and fired home his second league goal for Stanley.
Coleman’s men came close to a second on 32 minutes when, from another Longelo cross, Shaun Whalley’s header crashed against the post.
On 40 minutes, an error let Ryan Bowman through but, as he tried to chip Jensen, the Danish goalkeeper came out to block his effort and keep the Reds in front – Shrewsbury’s first real chance of the game.
On the stroke of half-time, Whalley whisked a ball across the face of goal but no one could get a touch.
Steve Cotterill made a double substitution at half-time and the visitors came out attacking.
Matthew Pennington’s header was blocked on 47 minutes while sub Rekeil Pyke’s strike hit the top of the crossbar. Pyke forced a save out of Jensen when he broke clean through.
Stanley suffered a blow when they lost Sean McConville to injury on 58 minutes, Mitch Clark replacing him on his return from injury.
The Reds had to defend a number of balls into the box and set-pieces with Jordan Shipley’s long range strike not far off as Shrewsbury pressed but thankfully for the Reds, they held firm.
Stanley: Jensen, Fernandes, Rodgers, Sangare, Longelo (Woods), McConville (Clark), Quirk, Conneely, Whalley, Leigh (Martin), Pressley
Sub: Isherwood, Pickles, Nolan, Butler-Oyedeji
Yellow: Longelo
Crowd: 2858 (807 away)