Shrewsbury moved a step closer to automatic promotion from League Two with a narrow win over Port Vale.

Matt Richards scored the only goal of the game after the break with a superb strike from outside the area.

Earlier on, the Shrews - unbeaten in 31 matches at home - saw efforts from Richards and Mark Wright saved by visiting keeper Chris Martin.

Vale's best chance came from Sean Rigg, but his long-range strike hit the ouside of the post.

Graham Turner's side should have doubled their advantage late on but Wright struck the woodwork after Martin saved well from Terry Gornell.

Shrewsbury now have a four-point cushion over third place Crawley.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner told BBC Radio Shropshire:

"I will get excited when we've finally done it, I've seen many clubs come unstuck at the last hurdle and I'm very guarded against that.

"We've got to keep the players steady, feet on the floor.

"If (promotion) is achieved on Saturday that would be a terrific thing but we might have to wait a little bit longer.

"We're not there yet, the feeling's not there yet, we've got to make sure we do it first and then we'll celebrate."

Port Vale manager Micky Adams told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I think we played a good part in an exciting League Two game. Both teams had chances and we came here with an attacking intent.

"Their keeper has had a good day and in many ways ours has too, so it made for an entertaining game.

"If Shrewsbury do get promoted then we'll miss them because it's a local derby and we enjoy playing against them.

"It's always a good atmosphere both at Vale Park and here as well."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Shrewsbury Town

  • 01 Neal
  • 02 Grandison
  • 03 Jacobson
  • 05 Sharps
  • 06 Cansdell-Sherriff
  • 07 Wright
  • 08 Wroe
  • 14 Richards
  • 20 Wildig (Taylor - 83' )
  • 09 Collins Booked
  • 24 Gornell (Morgan - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Smith
  • 21 McLaughlin
  • 04 McAllister
  • 23 Taylor
  • 10 Morgan

Port Vale

  • 01 Martin
  • 02 Yates
  • 05 McCombe
  • 26 Davis
  • 04 Griffith (James - 79' )
  • 07 Loft Booked
  • 17 Rigg
  • 20 Shuker (Marshall - 77' )
  • 08 Dodds
  • 09 Richards
  • 11 Pope (Williamson - 75' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Roe
  • 14 Marshall
  • 18 Morsy
  • 21 James
  • 19 Williamson
Ref: Madley
Att: 7,678

Match Stats

Shots

15 12

On target

9 8

Corners

7 4

Fouls

11 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:07 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +3:09

Unfair challenge on Joe Jacobson by Marc Richards results in a free kick. Joe Jacobson restarts play with the free kick.

89:52

Foul by Kingsley James on Joe Jacobson, free kick awarded. Joe Jacobson restarts play with the free kick.

89:00

Mark Wright decides to take the corner short.

87:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Yates on James Collins. Joe Jacobson restarts play with the free kick.

87:41

The ball is delivered by Marvin Morgan.

87:02 Booking

Booking Doug Loft goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

86:57

Doug Loft challenges Matthew Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

86:34

Jon Taylor challenges Doug Loft unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Martin restarts play with the free kick.

85:51

The ball is swung over by Kingsley James.

82:33 Substitution

Substitution Jon Taylor on for Aaron Wildig.

80:49 Substitution

Substitution Marvin Morgan joins the action as a substitute, replacing Terry Gornell.

80:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Davis by Terry Gornell. Chris Martin takes the free kick.

79:43

Centre by Kingsley James, clearance by Joe Jacobson.

79:43

The ball is swung over by Adam Yates, clearance made by Joe Jacobson.

78:16 Substitution

Substitution Kingsley James comes on in place of Anthony Griffith.

78:16

Ian Sharps challenges Ben Williamson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Marshall restarts play with the free kick.

77:16

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff challenges Anthony Griffith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Marshall takes the free kick.

76:41 Substitution

Substitution (Port Vale) makes a substitution, with Paul Marshall coming on for Chris Shuker.

74:34 Substitution

Substitution Ben Williamson comes on in place of Tom Pope.

70:50

Anthony Griffith challenges James Collins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Jacobson restarts play with the free kick.

68:33

Corner taken by Matthew Richards, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jermaine Grandison misses to the left of the goal.

68:18

Effort from deep inside the area by Mark Wright hits the post.

68:01

Terry Gornell takes a shot. Save made by Chris Martin.

67:19

A cross is delivered by Doug Loft, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Marc Richards goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

66:54

Tom Pope fouled by Ian Sharps, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Sean Rigg.

65:40

Marc Richards challenges Ian Sharps unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

64:37

Tom Pope is caught offside. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

64:01 Booking

Booking Booking for James Collins.

63:54

James Collins challenges Chris Martin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Martin takes the indirect free kick.

63:23

Outswinging corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line, clearance made by Ian Sharps.

63:06

Marc Richards takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a save.

62:46

Centre by Mark Wright, clearance made by John McCombe.

62:30

The ball is delivered by Sean Rigg, clearance made by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

61:35

Tom Pope takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

60:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Sharps by Marc Richards. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Neal.

59:40

Shot by Mark Wright from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

58:26

Corner taken by Doug Loft from the right by-line to the near post, Louis Dodds takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

58:13

Anthony Griffith takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

58:00

Adam Yates takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a save.

56:03

Effort on goal by Nicky Wroe from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

54:27 Goal scored

Goal - Matthew Richards - Shrewsbury 1 - 0 Port Vale Matthew Richards grabs a goal from outside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Shrewsbury 1-0 Port Vale.

54:19

The ball is delivered by Mark Wright, clearance made by John McCombe.

52:52

Doug Loft takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

50:41

A cross is delivered by James Collins.

50:09

James Collins takes a shot. Save by Chris Martin.

49:39

The ball is sent over by Mark Wright, Anthony Griffith manages to make a clearance.

47:12

The ball is sent over by Louis Dodds.

46:34

Unfair challenge on Tom Pope by Mark Wright results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Shuker.

45:51

Matthew Richards challenges Anthony Griffith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Yates takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:00 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:30

Terry Gornell takes a shot. Save made by Chris Martin.

44:48

A cross is delivered by Joe Jacobson.

44:11

Unfair challenge on Jermaine Grandison by Doug Loft results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Richards from right wing, Louis Dodds makes a clearance.

43:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by John McCombe on James Collins. Direct free kick taken by Joe Jacobson.

42:49

Doug Loft crosses the ball.

39:39

Centre by Jermaine Grandison, Shot from just outside the area by Aaron Wildig goes over the bar.

38:11

The ball is crossed by Joe Jacobson, James Collins takes a shot.

37:39

The ball is delivered by Joe Jacobson, Tom Pope makes a clearance.

36:18

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew Richards, Anthony Griffith makes a clearance.

36:11

Jermaine Grandison sends in a cross, clearance by Sean Rigg.

33:11

Sean Rigg has an effort at goal from just outside the box hitting the post.

32:15

Mark Wright produces a cross, Joe Davis makes a clearance.

30:36

Matthew Richards takes a shot. Save made by Chris Martin.

30:23

Mark Wright takes a shot. Save made by Chris Martin.

28:27

Matthew Richards takes a shot. Corner taken right-footed by Mark Wright. Blocked by Doug Loft.

26:19

The ball is sent over by Anthony Griffith, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Marc Richards misses to the left of the goal.

25:43

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff challenges Tom Pope unfairly and gives away a free kick. Anthony Griffith takes the direct free kick.

24:33

Effort from just outside the area by Anthony Griffith goes over the target.

23:09

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Shuker from the right by-line, save by Chris Neal.

21:48

Terry Gornell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc Richards. Shot on goal comes in from Marc Richards from the free kick, Terry Gornell makes a clearance.

21:04

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Chris Shuker, clearance made by Jermaine Grandison.

20:56

The ball is sent over by Louis Dodds, Joe Jacobson manages to make a clearance.

20:05

The ball is sent over by Mark Wright, Chris Shuker makes a clearance.

18:39

The referee blows for offside against Marc Richards. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

18:00

Foul by Mark Wright on Anthony Griffith, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Chris Shuker.

17:21

The ball is crossed by Doug Loft, clearance made by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

16:21

Terry Gornell is ruled offside. Chris Martin takes the free kick.

14:37

John McCombe gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Collins. Joe Jacobson takes the free kick.

12:38

The ball is delivered by James Collins, Adam Yates makes a clearance.

10:40

Corner taken by Matthew Richards.

10:35

The ball is swung over by Jermaine Grandison, John McCombe makes a clearance.

10:15

Anthony Griffith handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Wroe.

9:57

James Collins takes a shot. Save by Chris Martin.

8:28

The ball is delivered by Doug Loft.

5:08

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew Richards, Anthony Griffith makes a clearance.

4:31

Corner taken by Mark Wright, Matthew Richards takes a shot. Doug Loft gets a block in.

3:17

Joe Jacobson delivers the ball.

2:43

Louis Dodds takes a shot. Blocked by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

0:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Wright by Marc Richards. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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