But the Football League have taken no pity, and the Shropshire side must appear before a disciplinary commission.
A statement from the Football League read: "The Football League have formally charged Shrewsbury Town for failing to fulfil a League fixture, after the club did not arrive for their scheduled Coca-Cola League Two fixture against Bury at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
"The club has been asked to appear before a Football Disciplinary Commission, at which the club will have the opportunity to show whether their failure to arrive on time was either outside their control or could not have been reasonably anticipated and remedied prior to the scheduled kick-off."