Carlisle United’s inevitable slide to League Two continued as they went down 1-0 at Shrewsbury.
On paper it was of the Blues best chances to record an overdue win against a team struggling just above the drop zone.
In the end one goal was enough to give the Shrews their first home win in seven League games and inflict on Carlisle their 25th defeat of the season.
Not surprisingly rock bottom Carlisle have lost more than anyone else and are now ten points behind their nearest rivals and 16 from safety.
It had been a largely uneventful 40 minutes before Shrewsbury scored the goal that was to prove the winner.
Leading scorer Daniel Udoh did well to hold off a defender in the Carlisle box before turning quickly and firing home past Harry Lewis.
It took a good save from Lewis three minutes later when he tipped Carl Winchester’s effort round for a corner.
Dan Butterworth was closest to getting Carlisle back on terms after an hour. When he slipped round the Shrewsbury defence he fired at goal and home keeper Marko Marosi did well to save from close range.
Then not long afterwards he tried his luck with a free kick from the edge of the area and with Marosi struggling his shot just flew wide.
That was as close as Carlisle got to salvaging a point and, in fact, Shrewsbury could have had a second late on but Udoh’s effort from just outside the box flew over the bar.
