Shrewsbury Town 0
Stevenage 1
League (League One)

Match report written by Neil Metcalfe, The Comet

It was everything you wanted - a solid defensive display, a clean sheet and a win on the road for Stevenage.

A Kyle Edwards goal handed them a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury Town and after the dismal displays of late, this was a tonic that was needed and delightful to see.

Both sides struck the post, Shrews twice to Boro's one, while the home side also had a goal ruled out for offside.

But Boro were worthy winners as they could have wrapped it up either side of half-time.

There were five changes from the loss to Burton Albion in midweek

Dan Sweeney, Nick Freeman, Harvey White, Louis Thompson and Kyle Edwards were brought in.

Kane Smith's injury kept him out while Charlie Goode, Jamie Reid, Dan Phillips and Eli King dropped down to the bench.

They were also joined by youngster Ryan Doherty with an injury to Elliott List keeping him out of the match day squad.

Better was wanted and better is what Stevenage delivered in the first half, even if there were some areas that needed improvement.

The lead came after just seven minutes. A good build-up featuring Edwards and White ended with the ball chipped into the middle for White.

He had the option to shoot but he saw Edwards in the middle and in between the defenders.

And when he threaded a beautiful ball through, Edwards and Aaron Pierrie were drawn to it, the ball bouncing off a foot and to the right of Jamal Blackman.

Shrewsbury thought they were level moments later but the offside flag ruled that out.

The home side then went close again when George Lloyd was the only one to react to a clearance being put back over the top of the Boro defence.

He flicked it past Murphy Cooper but the left-hand post kept it out. John Marquis then had the chance to pop in the rebound but skewed it wide.

However, despite a bit of pressure, it was Boro who had the last, and arguably better chances of the half.

The first saw Kemp go through but he went for goal as Brandon Hanlan tried to come round him on the right.

That was blocked behind for a corner and from that set-piece Carl Piergianni sent his diving header wide.

Kemp then had another chance a minute later and somehow, from down by the byline to the left of goal, he squeezed it through the keeper's legs and off the far post.

Gareth Ainsworth changed formation to a back three but that seemed to allow Boro more space, and with Edwards down the right, there were chances.

The former Oxford United man sliced wide as he wriggled into the middle while the best chance fell to Hanlan, who could only glance a wonderful white cross wide.

Shrews were always going to have a bright spell and it came at the end, with Harrison Biggins having their two glorious chances.

The first was the closest, a dipping volley that struck the post and with three minutes of stoppage time played, he could only hit an effort into the floor and wide.

Boro defended well for the main though and were delighted to take three points back to Hertfordshire.