Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Shrewsbury Town

Bolton slipped away from Derby County in the race for the final automatic promotion spot after a 2-2 home draw against a resolute and determined Shrewsbury Town side. 

A maximum in their penultimate home match would’ve seen Ian Evatt’s move to within a point of the Rams, but the visitors made sure they would have to work to achieve this feat as they worked tirelessly and eventually opened the scoring for the night. 

Daniel Udoh reacted to Tom Bloxham’s pinpoint cross, and his finish was tucked superbly into the corner to silence the Toughsheet Community Stadium. 

Marko Marosi was a busy man in between the sticks all night, but his first real involvement was having to claw away Kyle Dempsey’s effort for the hosts. 

Aaron Collins and Cameron Jerome came closest next for the Wanderers, with efforts saved by Marosi and the latter player seeing a shot crash off the woodwork; however, the leveller came. 

Cameron Jerome got on the end of a loose ball in the midst of a scrap to avert the danger in the area, bringing the game level. 

As the Shrews regained the lead, it was all square for a matter of moments. A smart move allowed Jordan Shipley to be the beneficiary, and a smart finish gave the lowly Salop a lead going into halftime. 

Nathaniel Ogbeta was inches away from levelling the proceedings at the start of the second period as he reacted quickest to an initial effort that was denied by the keeper. Ogbeta’s nod forward was denied on the line by Morgan Feeney. 

Marosi was called into action to deny Bolton once more, this time tipping wide a flicked header by Kyle Dempsey. 

The game spiced up even more as the Wanderers chalked up a leveller for the second time in the contest as a smart finish by Paris Maghoma ignited the Whites. 

Bolton huffed and puffed but couldn’t steal the points in a result that could be pivotal in less than two weeks at the top of Sky Bet League One.