Match report by James Garrison

Rarely in his 25 years as a professional can Paul Simpson’s footballing weekend have been such a mixture of frustration and celebration.

It is hard to imagine quite what emotions Simpson – a man who has thrived on his return to management since taking the Shrewsbury helm six months ago – went through as he was forced to spend the most important 90 minutes of his working week in his sickbed.

Consolation came in spades, however, as his team produced a performance their absent manager will have taken great satisfaction and pride from.

Controlled and assured throughout, Town produced the inspiration and quality required as an attacking force to claim the most valuable three points of their season to date.

First Gillingham, now Bradford – the Prostar Stadium is enhancing its reputation as a graveyard for the remainder of the League Two promotion hopefuls.

While the scoreline may not have carried the same shock value and impact as the destruction of Gillingham a fortnight earlier, there is a strong argument for this being Town’s most complete performance of the season to date.

When Shrewsbury needed to produce the goods going forward they were able to craft out openings, taking two of them through the outstanding Ben Davies and Richard Walker at either end of a pulsating encounter.

Defensively Shrewsbury were quite outstanding, limiting an undoubtedly dangerous Bradford side to a combination of long-range efforts and half chances.

Highly polished

That is not to signal out a back five who have still yet to concede a League goal at home patch.

Yes, messers Daniels, Coughlan and Jackson further enhanced their standing with highly polished showings, while Ben Herd and Marc Tierney are consistently hitting the peaks in the full-back areas.

But Town’s resoluteness began with the tireless chasing of Grant Holt and Dave Hibbert in attack, and spread right throughout the team.

They were buoyed by a reward inside four minutes when Davies showed the poise and control to pick his spot after the ball broke to him some 15 yards out when Hibbert’s initial shot was saved by Rhys Evans.

That moment brought Bradford protests, the visitors upset that play was allowed to continue despite former Town loanee Graeme Lee and Tommy Moncur suffering head injuries after the pair collided.

When Holt and Kevin McIntyre clashed in similar fashion in the second period and referee Jarnail Singh halted play immediately to allow the two players to be treated, Bradford’s mood darkened further.

Unfortunately, and for a time distressingly, the impact of the clash between Moncur and Lee went well beyond the Davies goal.

The sight of Moncur collapsing minutes later prompted worry around the ground, particularly when the young right-back then hit the floor again as he attempted to walk off the pitch.

The lengthy delay and 12 minutes of injury time was a small price to pay for the sight of Moncur returning to the ground in a far healthier state shortly after the full-time whistle.

Despite the upheaval, Shrewsbury remained in control.

Holt was unfortunate to have an effort disallowed for offside and to strike the post with an angled drive, while McIntyre twice went close from distance.

For their reasonable share of possession in a game played at a frantic pace, Bradford were to create little, their best moment coming with a curling Omar Daley effort which produced a brilliant goalline clearance from the perfectly placed Herd.

But it was Town who continued to set the tempo in the second period and, after Holt had flashed a shot just wide and Davies had twice been denied by Evans, Walker emerged from the bench to seal the points.

It was a terrific team goal, McIntyre playing in Holt who shrugged off Paul Heckingbottom before rifling in a low cross which Walker got to first and applied a deft near post finish to secure his first goal from open play in 16 months.

Cue celebrations at the Prostar Stadium and no doubt a punch of the air in the Simpson household.

The manager may not have been there to see it but this was another performance to suggest the good times are returning to Shrewsbury.

They are back in the top three and riding a wave of momentum and belief which suggests they are well positioned to stay there.

Match facts:

Shrewsbury: Daniels, Herd, Jackson, Coughlan, Tierney, Davies, Thornton, McIntyre, Cansdell-Sherriff (Ashton 81), Holt, Hibbert (Walker 68). Subs not used: Garner, Langmead, Humphrey. Booked: Jackson (26) – For a trip on McLaren, Herd (60) – For a deliberate tug on Daley’s shirt.

Bradford: Evans, Moncur (Nix 18), Lee, Clarke, Heckingbottom, Colbeck, Bullock (M Boulding 57), McLaren, Furman, Daley, Conlon. Subs not used: Bower, McLaughlin, R Boudling. Booked: Furman (75) – For a foul on the breaking Tierney.

Referee: J Singh (Middlesex)

Attendance: 6,517 (916 from Bradford)

Goal log:

1-0 – Davies (4) – Calmly slotted into the net from 15 yards after Hibbert’s initial shot had been well saved by Evans.

2-0 – Walker (90) – Turned home from close range at the near post after Holt had shrugged off Heckingbottom and supplied a perfect low cross.