Shrewsbury Town 2 Cheltenham Town 0

Last updated : 31 August 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Shrewsbury Town registered their second victory of the season as a goal in each half enabled them to overcome visiting Cheltenham Town.

Their second successive 2-0 home victory - the first was against high-flying Northampton ten days ago - was secured by a close-range Ryan Lowe goal on 35 minutes, with the outcome put beyond all doubt when hot-shot striker Luke Rodgers scored a typically flamboyant solo effort two minutes from time.

Following his side's 2-0 defeat at Oxford United last Saturday, Shrews boss Jimmy Quinn moved to snap up Doncaster Rovers wide man John McGrath in a one-month loan deal - and he handed the former Aston Villa man an immediate debut after putting pen to paper earlier in the day.

After a low-key opening spell the game came to life after 20 minutes as Rodgers and midfielder Ben Smith both went close to opening the scoring for the home side, before Lowe was on hand to steer Shrewsbury ahead ten minutes before the break - converting the simplest of chances after John Grant had side-footed a McGrath cross back across the goal.

As the second half unfolded Shrewsbury continued to dominate, although it needed a fine diving stop from Scott Howie to keep out an effort from Cheltenham substitute Ashley Vincent as the visitors went looking for a leveller.

But with two minutes left, any hopes the visitors had of salvaging a point were extinguished as Rodgers raced on to a throughball from Lowe and beat two defenders before smashing an unstoppable shot past Shane Higgs in the Cheltenham goal.