Shrewsbury close in on League One safety with Gillingham win

Shrewsbury moved closer to securing their League One status as James Bolton and Tyrese Campbell scored second-half goals in a 2-0 victory at Gillingham.

Bolton met Shaun Whalley’s cross to fire through a crowded penalty area five minutes after half-time and net his first league goal of the season.

And Campbell made sure of victory shortly after the hour despite slightly scuffing his shot from Scott Golbourne’s cutback.

Victory for the Shrews – their third in five games – moves Sam Ricketts’ side onto 50 points, six clear of the relegation zone.

The visitors had earlier threatened when Whalley’s 20-yard free-kick skimmed the outside of the post and Gills goalkeeper Tomas Holy brilliantly smothered Omar Beckles’ effort from six yards.

Billy Bingham had the best chance for the hosts, who are now just four points clear of the drop, after just three minutes when he fired a low shot off the post.

Luke O’Neill saw his long-range free-kick fly just past Jonathan Mitchell’s post, while substitute Josh Rees’ effort was inadvertently blocked on the line by team-mate Brandon Hanlan late on.