Shrewsbury 3 Rochdale 1

Last updated : 01 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Shrewsbury Town registered their first home league victory of the year, scoring a 3-1 home win over Rochdale to further ease their relegation worries.

With their second three-point haul in seven days, Kevin Ratcliffe's men put more daylight between themselves and the basement and at the same time warmed up nicely for Tuesday's LDV Northern Final home leg against Carlisle, in which they trail 1-0 from the Brunton Park first leg.

Shrewsbury were quickly out of the blocks and were ahead in the fourth minute thanks to a smart Steve Jagielka strike.

He was on target again six minutes before the break to extend Shrewsbury's lead, with the outcome put beyond all doubt on 67 minutes when Ryan Lowe sidefooted home after good work from substitute Sam Aiston.

Lee McEvilly pulled one back for the visitors seven minutes from time, as the match finished in monsoon conditions with the pitch resembling a swamp in many places.

When the Rochdale defence failed to clear an early Shrewsbury corner, Jagielka was on hand to volley home from the edge of the box and although Rochdale carried a threat throughout the first half mainly due to the prompting of impressive winger Patrick McCourt, they found themselves two down in the 39th minute.

Shrewsbury skipper Nigel Jemson crossed from the right and at the far post Jagielka neatly volleyed home.

After the break Jemson and Lowe both missed opportunities to put the home side three up, but in the 67th minute Lowe tucked away the third following a great run from Aiston that left three defenders trailing in his wake.

Lowe almost grabbed a fourth for Shrewsbury but was denied by a fine save from young Rochdale keeper Matthew Gilks and in the 83rd minute Paul Simpson's side finally had a consolation goal to show for their efforts, McEvilly beating two defenders to score from ten yards.