WITH around 20 minutes to go, the attendance was announced and Accrington Stanley were celebrating a record gate at the Interlink Express Stadium.

But manager John Coleman was in no mood to party as, moments later, his side was punished for one of a number of unforced errors and hopes of a draw against one of the promotion favourites were shattered.

Andy Procter, who had again proved his versatility by starting on the left side of midfield, stood on the ball deep inside his own half in rushed attempts to clear the danger. Luke Rodgers nipped in to steal the ball and release Jake Sedgemore and his left-wing cross left Colin Cramb with a free header which had Jon Kennedy well beaten.

It was a hammer blow to Stanley who, for the best part of 80 minutes, had been resolute if, on occasions, fortunate that the former Football League side hadn't made the most of some gilt-edged opportunities.

Rodgers had been the most wasteful, but the million pound rated striker had also been frustrated by some superb defending.

Centre back Robbie Williams had stuck to Rodgers like glue to barely give the pint-sized livewire an inch up front.

But Shrewsbury had also done their homework and kept a close eye on winger Rory Prendergast to limit his service into the box.

The fact that Stanley had started so brightly made defeat an even bitter pill to swallow. They had forced the early pressure with two quick corners. But, similarly, it wasn't long before the pacy Rodgers made his intentions clear.

Williams, however, kept him in his pocket for long periods and restricted him to mainly long-range chances.

Stanley's best chance arrived on 16 minutes when fullback Peter Cavanagh linked with Paul Cook and charged down the right before whipping a cross in to the near post. Lutel James was quick to react but goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin made a brave save as the striker connected.

Procter then flicked the ball through the middle for James to run on to but Dunbavin charged off his line to foil James' attempted chip from inside the area.

That was the final part Dunbavin played in the match after being hurt in the earlier challenge with the former Bury striker, and he was replaced by Scott Howie.

Within a minute of the swap, Rodgers flashed a shot wide of the left hand post but Stanley were quick to launch an attack. Paul Mullin was surrounded by three players as he looked to make inroads and, with no-one in immediate support, struggled to make further progress and lost possession.

Shrewsbury, backed by a large following, stepped up a gear towards the end of the second half and Stanley would have been delighted to go into the break with a clean sheet.

After Cramb slid his shot into the side-netting, Williams was unlucky not to concede a penalty as he appeared to bring Rodgers down in the box. But the fact the referee waved away the visitors' spot-kick appeals was merely justice for the linesman failing to notice Rodgers had been yards offside when he was released.

The 21-year-old hitman had three more chances before half-time but the only one he could keep on target was too weak to trouble Kennedy.

However, it was Stanley who had the final, and arguably best, chance of the half. Prendergast's corner was whipped into the centre, Jonathan Smith flicked a header goalwards but Jamie Tolley cleared off the line while Martin O'Connor booted away the follow-up.

Tolley let loose at the opposite end after the break, rifling a short free-kick wide of the right-hand upright.

Rodgers then burst away from Williams for the first time in the match as he charged on to Howie's long punt up field, but Kennedy raced off his line, made himself big to give Rodgers little to aim at and held on to his attempted chip.

Stanley survived a further onslaught, with two long-range efforts being deflected before Williams cleared substitute Jamie Sedgemore's header off the line.

John Durnin then replaced James, who was struggling with a hamstring strain, and Andy Gouck came on for Gordon Armstrong. And the double substitution had the desired effect as Gouck was unlucky to head Paul Cook's free kick over the bar.

The Shrews broke away but Williams was exceptional in getting back to prevent Rodgers from taking aim after having a free run at goal.

Stanley retrieved possession, with Gouck and Durnin linking well to set up Prendergast, but his shot bobbled straight to Howie before Cook thumped a long range chance wide of the left hand post.

The Shrews refused to be tamed, however, and after Procter ran into trouble in his own half, Cramb thumped a header past Kennedy.

Stanley threw on Dean Calcutt to provide ammunition into the box from the right, but with six minutes remaining, it wasn't long enough for the winger to make an impact.

STANLEY 0

SHREWSBURY 1

Scorer: Cramb 82

Interlink Express Stadium

Attendance: 3,143