Max Mata's first Town goal inspired Shrewsbury to a 2-1 win over Port Vale.

A clever Mata header and an excellent Dan Udoh strike saw Matt Taylor's side secure all three points at the Croud Meadow.

Vale pulled one back in the 57^th minute, but it wasn’t enough to deny Salop of all three points - a result that moves us up to 12^th in the League One table.

Team news: 

Head coach Taylor opted for a 3-5-2 formation, making three changes from the side that lost to Blackpool with Morgan Feeney, Nohan Kenneh and Max Mata returning to the side.  

It meant Elliott Bennett moved across to right-wing-back, while Kenneh played alongside Carl Winchester and Taylor Perry in the middle. 

Report: 

Town, who entered the game with seven players in the treatment room, saw the list extended in just the fourth minute when Tom Flanagan went down with a knee injury and was subsequently replaced by Joe Anderson. 

Nevertheless, it was Salop who started the game on the front foot with Mata hitting a venomous strike from the corner of the 18-yard box which was parried away by Connor Ripley. 

Around 10 minutes later, a couple of chances came Port Vale’s way. 

First, Ben Garrity rose highest to meet Tom Sang’s corner but it was cleared off the line as it inadvertently hit Ethan Chislett.  

Next, Uche Ikpeazu had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was disallowed due to a push on Chey Dunkley. 

With the clock ticking towards the half-hour mark, though, Town got themselves ahead.

Jordan Shipley whipped in a pinpoint cross to the back post, which Mata headed into the ground and through the keepers’ legs. 

Minutes before the interval, Town almost doubled their lead as Dunkley did well to hold off two defenders before narrowly firing over. 

Instantly after the restart, Salop made it 2-0. 

Udoh drove forwards with the ball, before entering the box and rifling one into the top right corner with his weak foot. 

The Valiants pulled one back in the 57^th minute as Tom Sang’s free-kick was met by Ben Garrity whose flick-on header found the back of the net. 

A brilliant passage of one-touch passing between the Town players then sent Shipley through with his shot sailing just over. 

And from that point, Salop held on to secure an excellent win.

Teams: 

Shrewsbury: Marko Marosi; Tom Flanagan (Joe Anderson 8’), Chey Dunkley, Morgan Feeney, Jordan Shipley, Elliott Bennett (Aaron Pierre 86’); Nohan Kenneh, Taylor Perry (Mal Benning 46’), Carl Winchester; Max Mata (Ryan Bowman 86’), Dan Udoh 

Unused Substitutes: Harry Burgoyne, Tunmise Sobowale, Jack Loughran 

Port Vale: Connor Ripley; Tom Sang, Nathan Smith ©, Ben Garrity, Ethan Chislett (Jesse Debrah 64’), Alfie Devine, Uche Ikpeazu (Jason Lowe 64’), Funso Ojo, Alex Iacovitti (Ryan Loft 64’), Oliver Arblaster, Gavin Massey 

Unused substitutes: Jayson Leutwiler, Tom Conlon, James Plant, Rhys Waters 

Attendance: 7,429 (1,637) 

Referee: Scott Tallis