Shrewsbury realise promotion dream

Last updated : 16 May 2004 By Richard Brown

After relegation heart-break last season, the Shrews of Gay Meadow returned at the first time of asking to Division Three where they will join Chester City on the up as Jimmy Quinn's men turned over the part-timer's of Aldershot to win promotion.

The game was drawn at 1-1 after the initial ninety minutes of play with precious little to choose between the two sides after Aaron McLean had given his side the upper-hand with a whipped shot from a set-piece before, seven minutes later, ex-Notts man Duane Darby pulled the Shropshire side level, firing the shot into the roof of the goal in similiar circumstances.

However, Aldershot's D'Sane will surely look back upon his early opportunity and cringe after dragging his shot wide under very little pressure from the Shrews' rearguard, which prompted tightknit defending from both sides.

Although, when normal time and two halves of extra time failed to seperate the two sides, Shrewsbury, after hesitation from their first kick-taker, managed to snatch a lead on their second spot-kick through Gosling, followed by Tolley and Challis, to - after some goalkeeping heroics from Scott Howie - clinch promotion back to the Football League.

Congratulations to the Shrews who will make the short journey back from the Britannia tonight after having already leaped the gulf to the Third Division.