Colchester United 1-0 Shrewsbury Town

Jabo Ibehre claimed a second-half winner for the only goal of the game as Colchester United beat fellow League One strugglers Shrewsbury Town.

Shrewsbury should have scored early on when the unmarked Tom Eaves headed over from Jermaine Grandison's cross before being denied by U's keeper Sam Walker.

The U's were then twice denied by the woodwork before Ibehre struck.

Twisting and turning in the box, Ibehre fired a low left-foot shot into the corner for the U's 55th-minute winner.

Colchester, who have 10 games left, move five points clear of danger.

The home side should have led on 25 minutes when skipper Brian Wilson's excellent free-kick from the edge of the area slammed against the underside of the bar.

And they struck the woodwork again four minutes before half-time when Dominic Vose's long-range shot also bounced off the bar.

Shrewsbury's fifth game without a win leaves Mike Jackson's men four points adrift of safety with nine games to go.

Colchester United manager Joe Dunne told BBC Essex:

"I thought we dominated the game. We made some good chances, the back four were disciplined - as they have been for a long time.

"The front four gave us that energy and the midfield had the legs to get in and around people.

"I think, overall, we were comfortable in terms of defending and also looked threatening on the attack.

"I'm pleased for Jabo [Ibehre], I thought it was an excellent goal, we've been encouraging him to get clean strikes on the ball and he did that."

Shrewsbury Town manager Mark Jackson told BBC Radio Shropshire:

"I don't think we can go away thinking we deserved to win. We'd be kidding ourselves.

"But it's so frustrating that we missed that chance so early on. Then it might have been different.

"I understand why the fans are despondent. We fell short - but the players aren't trying to lose games.

"But we know where we are and we know what we have to do - and yes, we can still get out of this mess,"