Shrewsbury Town vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet League One.
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Saturday 23 March 2019 17:32, UK
Promotion-chasing Portsmouth climbed to third in Sky Bet League One with a 2-0 victory at relegation-threatened Shrewsbury.
Ben Close and Brett Pitman were on target at New Meadow to keep Pompey within sight of second-placed Barnsley against a Shrews side just a point clear of the bottom four.
The home side started brightly, with Shaun Whalley's shot producing a fine save from former Town goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray low to his right.
Whalley followed up soon after with an effort that was deflected narrowly wide before James Bolton headed over.
Pompey then came into the game, with Jamal Lowe and Gareth Evans both denied by Shrewsbury goalkeeper Steve Arnold before they broke the deadlock in the 40th minute.
Arnold initially kept out a shot from Lee Brown, only for Close to drill home the loose ball for his sixth goal in his last 10 matches.
Substitute Oli Hawkins twice went close for the visitors in the second half, hitting the bar and then seeing a header impressively saved by Arnold.
Town came close to equaliser when McGillivray superbly stopped a free-kick from Ollie Norburn, but it was Portsmouth who sealed the points in the 79th minute, with Pitman tucking home from close range a Hawkins left-wing cross.
