Coca-Cola League Two

SUPERSUB John Miles 81st-minute strike earned Macclesfield their seventh win in eight games.

The Silkmen's forward sealed three valuable points when his deflected shot beat Shrews' goalkeeper Scott Howie.

It was Miles', who has only started nine League games this season, first goal since September 11. But the 23-year-old has proved a match winner from the substitutes' bench on more than one occasion.

His killer pass set up Graham Potter for a late winner at Cambridge last month. And as Macc struggled to break down a limited Shrewsbury side, Brian Horton again turned to the Liverpool-born striker.

'Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't,' said the Macc boss of the crucial substitution. 'Milesy scored one and could have had another one after a fantastic run.

'He was excellent when he came on but he has got to produce that week in, week out - as all the players have. That's what I keep asking from them.'

The victory saw the Silkmen move back up to third spot after last week's hiccup at Northampton.

But for long periods it looked like Macc would leave with only a point. Frustrated by Shrews' negative tactics - five across the midfield and Kelvin Langmead isolated up front - and a dreadful playing surface, the visitors managed only one shot on target in a poor first 45 minutes. That it came from Matt Carragher's 30-yard strike said it all.

The Cheshire side came out firing at the start of the second half, but it was the home side who nearly took a shock lead. Macc's hitman Jon Parkin was forced into action at the other end when he cleared Ryan Lowe's free-kick off the line

But the Silkmen gradually gained the ascendancy and Neil MacKenzie tested Howie from distance after good work from Matty Tipton. That was to be the midfielder's last contribution as, struggling with a dead leg, he was replaced by Miles on 62 minutes.

The substitute immediately sparked Macc into life and Parkin nearly added to his 23-goal tally with a smart turn and shot.

Miles clung to the touchline and caused Shrewsbury problems whenever he was in possession. And with just nine minutes remaining he grabbed the winner.

The sub ran on to Danny Swailes' flick on, ghosted past former Silkmen favourite Darren Tinson and saw his shot clip David Walton on the way in.

If the goal was slightly fortuitous, the deflection wrong-footing Howie, then the Shrews' shot-stopper could consider himself lucky moments later.

Miles skipped past three challenges as he cut in along the by-line only for his effort to cannon into Howie's legs from close range.

• SHREWSBURY: Howie, Tinson, Challis, Tolley, O'Connor, Ashton (Grant 84), Lowe (Edwards 74), Whitehead, Aiston, Walton, Langmead. Subs not used: Hart, Wilkinson, Sedgemore.

• MACCLESFIELD: Fettis, Potter, Carragher, Harsley, Parkin, Tipton, Welch, MacKenzie (Miles 61), Morley, McIntyre, Swailes. Subs not used: Bailey, Barrass, Wilson, Whitaker. Booked: Carragher, Parkin.

Ref: Uriah Rennie.

Att: 4,262.

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