Shrewsbury Town picked up their sixth league win in a row after dispatching Port Vale at the Meadow on Saturday afternoon.
In what was a frantic game from start to finish, the away side opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Dennis Politic’s header.
Town responded in the 27th minute through Chey Dunkley, who volleyed home from close range following a corner from Tom Bayliss
Shrewsbury were ahead six minutes later from the second phase of another set piece when Taylor Moore played a lobbed ball into the box and skipper Luke Leahy rose highest to head in.
In a half full of action, the home side were not done when Salop scored another goal originating from a set piece.
The move culminated with Killian Phillips taking a touch in the centre of the box to poke home the third and final Town goal.
Vale did pull one back in the 52nd minute through half-time substitute Jamie Proctor, who converted from close range.
With Tom Flanagan suspended and Matt Pennington still feeling the effects of a head bang sustained against Forest Green, Steve Cotterill had to shuffle his pack for the visit of Darrell Clarke’s side.
The boss stuck with a 3-5-2 formation but League One Player of the Month Luke Leahy shifted from midfield to centre-back where he lined up alongside Dunkley and Taylor Moore.
Up front, the in-form Ryan Bowman partnered Christian Saydee with Carl Winchester. Tom Bayliss and Phillips played in central midfield.
Vale boss Darrell Clarke went with a 3-4-3 formation with Gavin Massey in the centre-forward position.
After a fast-paced start from both teams, the away side broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Robinson’s cross from the right was headed in by Politic.
Despite the set-back, Town immediately pressed for an equaliser – with Bayliss going close with a fine half-volley from 20 yards that goalkeeper Jack Stevens claimed.
It was in the 27th minute that Salop got themselves back on level terms – with Bayliss whipping in a corner that Dunkley eventually fired in from close range.
Montgomery Waters Meadow was rocking following the goal – and Town went ahead just six minutes later.
After winning a corner, Vale dealt with the first phase. But they didn’t deal with the second – with Luke Leahy smashing home Town's second for his ninth goal of the season.
Town found their rhythm following the goal, and the home side won another corner which was taken once again by Bayliss in the 33rd minute.
The Vale defence cleared the immediate danger, but the ball landed at the feet of Moore, who sent in a lobbed ball back into the danger zone.
Leahy rose highest in the box and headed home from close range to give Town the lead.
Shrewsbury came close to a third in the 40th minute through Bowman, who won the ball high up the pitch and took it around the on-rushing Stevens.
Salop’s number nine got his shot off from a tight angle, but Dan Jones raced back to clear the ball off the line.
Shrewsbury won a free kick in the 43rd minute, which Leahy took but the set piece was headed away to the corner flag.
Bennett collected it and fizzed the ball to the back post. It was cleared to the edge of the box where Jordan Shipley fired it straight back to where it had come from.'
The versatile left wing-back took a first-time shot from close range, but his blocked effort fell to Phillips' feet. The Crystal Palace loanee took a touch and poked it into the bottom corner.
Five minutes after the interval, Leahy and Saydee combined wonderfully before Town’s skipper sent in a dangerous cross which was very close to being tapped in by Vale’s defence.
Massey was able to get away from his marker in the 52nd minute and drove into the box, where he laid the ball off to Proctor, who from close range converted for the visitors.
Following the restart, Saydee managed to find Bayliss in the box through a lovely back heel.
Shrewsbury’s number 20 struck a low driven ball across goal, but Stevens got down to parry away.
Town combined well on the left with under 15 minutes left to play before the ball was laid off to Bayliss.
The attacking midfielder ran onto the ball on the edge of the box before hitting a powerful curling shot, but his effort went wide.
With seven minutes added on at the end of the game, Salop were tasked with enduring an onslaught as Vale looked for an equaliser.
Thankfully, with valiant and resolute defending, Town held on for their sixth consecutive win.
Teams
Salop XI:
Marosi (GK), Leahy (C), Moore, Winchester (Pyke, 77), Phillips, Bowman, Bennett, Bayliss, Dunkley, Saydee (Street, 77), Shipley
Unused subs:
Burgoyne (GK), Bloxham, Barlow, Bailey
Port Vale XI:
Stevens (GK), Jones (Worrall, 70), Donnelly (Forrester, 45), Smith, Garrity, Conlon (C) (Ojo, 89), Benning (Odubeko, 82), Massey, Butterworth (Proctor, 45), Robinson, Politic
Unused subs:
Stone (GK), Pett
Bookings: Winchester, Dunkley, Saydee, Conlon, Politic, Garrity, Massey
Attendance: 8,502
Away: 1,622
