Rochdale: Tommy Lee, Raphale Evans, Simon Ramsden, Marcus Holness (Bowyer, 58), Nathan D'Laryea, John Doolan, Chris Basham, Joe Thompson, Ben Muirhead, Chris Dagnall, Adam Le Fondre (Buckley, 83)

Subs: Will Buckley, George Bowyer, Ben Wharton, Andy Brown, Reece Kelly

Town: Scott Bevan, Darran Kempson, Marc Pugh (Hibbert, 63), James Constable (Madjo, 79), Ben Herd, Ben Davies, Asa Hall, Chris Humphrey, Marc Tierney, Kevin McIntyre, James Meredith (Leslie, 76)

Subs: Glynn Garner, Darren Moss, Dave Hibbert, Steven Leslie, Guy Madjo

Ref: A Bate
Assistants: K Mattocks, J Collin
Fourth Official: M Astley

Martin Wild reports from Spotland

Paul Simpson makes several changes as he names his final team of this disappointing season for Town. James Meredith takes his place at left back as player of the year Marc Tierney moves inside to partner Darran Kempson at the heart of the defence. Asa Hall returns in midfield with Darren Moss amongst the subs and there's a starting place for Marc Pugh up front. Neither Dave Hibbert nor Guy Madjo start with James Constable preferred as Pugh's partner.

Dale - already assured of a place in the play-offs - were first to register their goal threat when Chris Dagnall got away a stinging right footed drive from the right hand side of Town's penalty area, and Scott Bevan did well to get a strong glove onto the ball to direct it away from goal with just five minutes on the clock.

As with several ground share arrangements (the town's rugby club the Hornets are also in residence at Spotland) there has been a detrimental affect on the playing surface in this part of Lancashire, and the ball wasn't exactly running true in the early exchanges.

Tommy Lee in the home goal was called into action when Pugh tried a bit of trickery on the edge of the box and swivelled away from his marker. He put his shot on target but the save was relatively straight forward down to his left for the Dale keeper.

Dagnall's striking partner Adam Le Fondre was showing why he had already bagged sixteen league goals this term for Keith Hill's men, with the number ten posing a constant threat to the Town back-line.

Rochdale came close to breaking the deadlock after half-an-hour when Joe Thompson's effort from 20 yards beat the despairing dive of Bevan, but thankfully for the Shrews his shot whistled just wide of the upright.

Two minutes later Salop took the lead with a text-book set-piece. Skipper Ben Davies whipped in a free-kick from the left flank and Hall's header went past Lee for the midfielder's third goal of the season - and his first away from home.

Seeing Scooby-Doo, Batman and Robin, Bananaman, the Hulk and several Smurfs celebrating wildly in the visitor's section opposite the press-box was close to a season's highlight!

Chris Humphrey had a chance to extend the lead when the referee waved an advantage to put the Town winger clear but to be fair to the youngster, the angle was quite tight and he couldn't keep his effort down.

HT: 0-1

Meredith was the recipient of the game's first yellow card and could have had few complaints with Tony Bates' decision, after scything down Chris Basham at the start of the second period. He was followed almost immediately into the referee's notebook as once again Basham was halted in full flow, this time by Kevin McIntyre.

No-one could accuse Town of treating this fixture lightly. Despite the fact that the game had little riding on it for either side, Simpson's men were committed to every challenge as they sought only their fourth away victory of a frustrating campaign.

Defending leads though has been Shrewsbury's Achilles heel this season and a calamitous error by Bevan - who spilled the ball not once, but twice - allowed Dagnall to poach an equaliser from the narrowest of angles on 55 minutes, despite the best efforts of Ben Herd to keep the ball out.

Marc Pugh was the third Town player to receive a yellow just past the hour. The official term I believe is simulation - diving if you prefer - as Pugh looked to win a corner. It was the young Lancastrian's last involvement in the game as Dave Hibbert came on to replace him.

Hibbert's first action almost brought about a penalty as the forward went down under a challenge in the area. Mr. Bates ignored the claims for a penalty and on this occasion decided to keep his card fixed firmly in his pocket. Davies was the next to go tumbling inside the 18 yard box but the official's decision was the same and Pugh must have been scratching his head as to why he had been cautioned just a few minutes earlier. At least he could enjoy the bright sunshine from his place on the bench as his holiday's started prematurely!

Dagnall and Le Fondre combined with thirteen minutes remaining with the latter chesting the ball down and firing beyond Bevan, but he was denied what may have been a winner by the raised flag of a linesman. To rub salt into his wounds he was booked presumably for failing to hear the whistle at a noisy Spotland as both sets of fans continued to back their heroes.

Constable was replaced by Guy Madjo with 11 minutes left - seconds after wasting an immaculate chance to restore the lead for Town. McIntyre's probing cross fell invitingly for Constable but his downward header went wide of the mark, when a goal should have been the only realistic outcome.

In a bizarre ending to the game, Ben Muirhead was shown a red card amidst howls of derision from the home support. But as Muirhead was almost reaching the tunnel, the referee rescinded the decision having consulted his linesman and the bemused number seven resumed his afternoon's work.

So, Dale's season continues via the lottery of a play-off date with Darlington as they look to reach League One and book a Wembley place in the process. Twelve months ago on the corresponding Saturday of the season, Salop earned the right to face MK Dons as the curtain came down on league football at Gay Meadow. What a difference a year makes!

F-T: 1-1