With the suspensions of Lester and Hall to contend with, Lee Richardson's selection plans were further complicated by the lack of Drew Talbot and Darren Currie through illness. Scott Boden was drafted in alongside Martin Gritton while Clayton McDonald was preferred to Rob Page and Kevin Austin in central defence. Alan Goodall came in at left midfield, while the other new loanee, Jared Wilson, was given a place on the bench.
Chesterfield kicked off on a weary-lookingpitch and Grant Holt cemented his status as committer of the division's most fouls by being penalised for his 93rd of the season, on Robertson, within seconds of the start. Downes fouled Holt in the second minute and Chadwick flicked the free kick on, but the ball flew wide. Gritton flicked on to Boden on 5 but his hasty cross-shot lacked purpose.
The Shrews won their first corner on 7. Davies' right-footed kick was headed away by Downes and McDonald got the last touch to the return, to concede another corner.Goodall headed this away conclusively. Gray's needless foul on Humphrey gave away a 10th-minute free kick that Davies took; McDonald's attempted clearance squeezed through to Lee, whose safe hands took the ball.
Holt broke towards the area on 14 through Downes's half-tackle and crossed, but Dunfield's effort was poor. Till broke into the home side's box on 16 and shot; the keeper appeared to misjudge the flight, giving it up before the shot passed narrowly wide.
Shrewsbury took the lead through Jackson on 18 with a simple, well-placed header from a Davies free kick. The pacy Humphrey began to work Gray's side and he won a corner off McDonald on 23. Lee gathered the corner well.
Scott Boden levelled the score on 25 when he linked well with Robertson to cut across the field and drill a shot that left Daniels hopeless in the Shrewsbury net.
Humphrey took a quick corner on 30 and Coughlan headed goalwards, but wide. Boden broke into the box and crossed for Goodall to shoot, but the keeper was well-placed to save. Straight up the other end Holt found Chadwick's pass and shot, but Lee saved at the second attempt. Since the equaliser the visitors gained the confidence to have more of a go at their hosts, with Goodall pushing forward well and Boden's pace being used to good effect.
The Shrews won another corner on 40 following defending characterised by resolve, rather than elegance. The worked flag kick was easily cleared. McDonald headed out for another cornera minute later but Davies' kick sailed out over the back post. Dan Gray held his nerve against the difficult Humphrey (who would swap to the other win for the second half) and the Spireites kept their shape well to come back into the game.
Halftime: 1-1.Attendance: 4873(332 from Chesterfield .)
McDonald did well to take the ball off Davies' feet on 48 and a corner followed, but The Shrews were unable to produce more than a goal kick for Chesterfield. Kerry broke forward and shot; the ball took a deflection to earn Chesterfield a corner on 50. Till took it and Downes headed, but it lacked the power to trouble the keeper.
Goodall was spoken to on 53 for a foul that left the Shrews with a shooting chance, which Davies took with great aplomb to restore his side's lead. Lee got a hand to it
Downes headed away at the expense of a 62nd-minute corner as Davies continued to pull the strings in midfield. Holt found a lot of space in the six yard box but headed wastefully over.
Jared Wilson replaced Dan Gray on 63 as the Shrews continued to press. McDonald looked resolute but the defence as a whole creaked like a Nelsonian battleship.Shrewsbury replaced Humphrey with Leslie on 66. The home side continued to create chances but Holt, particularly, was unaccountably wasteful.
The visitors brought Austin on for Goodall on 68, pushing Robertson up into midfield. McDonald was booked for a foul on Holt on 75.
Jackson's foul on Gritton presented Chesterfield with a free kick in shooting range. Robertson took the free kick and struck the bar, the ball looping over for a goal kick. Chesterfield replaced Till with Lowry on 82. Robertson won the visitors' second corner on 85 and Winter took it, but the keeper was able to collect with ease. The Shrews played the last few minutes out without looking like scoring or conceding.
