Oliver Norwood seals Stockport win with stunning free-kick

Stockport made it three wins on the spin as they edged past bottom-of-the-table Shrewsbury 1-0.

Oliver Norwood’s impressive free-kick as the game headed towards the break was all that separated the sides.

After a cagey opening half-hour, Shrews goalkeeper Jamal Blackman pulled off an excellent reflex save to keep out Callum Connolly’s headed effort.

But County took the lead on 37 minutes in emphatic style as former Northern Ireland international Norwood sent a superb curling free-kick into the top corner, way out of the reach of Blackman.

Kyle Wootton was denied twice in quick succession on the hour mark, first seeing his shot charged down by Morgan Feeney before Blackman made a terrific save from the resulting corner.

Feeney was then stretchered off the pitch following a 10-minute stoppage for medical treatment, after a collision with an opposition player.

The visitors’ best chance of the night came on 83 minutes when John Marquis’ header was clawed off the line by Ben Hinchcliffe as Stockport held on for the win.