Shrewsbury Town outlined the case for the defence as one of the most remarkable player revivals in the club’s recent history continued unabated.

The re-invention of Dave Hibbert from fourth choice striker to un-dropable asset has been the compelling side issue to the early weeks of Town’s League Two campaign.

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And it was his sixth goal of the season which set Town on their way to an important victory over near neighbours Crewe on Saturday.

A tidy finish it was too with Hibbert providing the perfect execution to a close range but awkward chance, exuding the confidence of a player operating at the peak of his powers.

And there can be no greater compliment to the revitalised striker than to say that, at this stage at least, the goals that left with Grant Holt’s departure to Norwich are not being unduly missed.

But arguably of greater significance to Town’s ambitions over the coming weeks came at the other end of the field with the opening clean sheet of the season.

For a side that accumulated 20 clean sheets in all competitions last season, Town have been lax defensively in the early stages of 2009-10.

But, through a combination of fine headed clearances, brave blocks and two excellent Steve Phillips stops, came the shut-out which will renew belief amongst the Town rearguard.

And, while Shrewsbury can be pleased with their display, there was also a little assistance from Lady Luck, returning after deserting Paul Simpson’s men a week ago to ensure a couple of close shaves from Crewe passed with the clean sheet in tact.

“When you don’t keep clean sheets, it’s not always the defenders’ fault but it is them and the goalkeeper who take the brunt of it,” said manager Paul Simpson.

“They will take a lot of confidence from this, and so can the players in front of them.

“I thought Graham Coughlan and Kelvin Langmead were excellent, Dean Holden was fantastic on the right and Shane (Cansdell-Sherriff) stuck to his task as well because you have to remember we were playing up against some good forwards.”

Indeed it was Crewe who fired the first warning shots, twice going close before Town took the lead.

The giant Calvin Zola put his only free header of the afternoon wide of the target from 12 yards while Phillips did brilliantly to tip over a Joel Grant effort after a moment of hesitancy from the otherwise excellent Kelvin Langmead.

But with Hibbert in a rich vein of form, the opposition can ill-afford to be wasteful in front of goal.

And so it proved on 28 minutes when, with the hosts’ first meaningful shot, the on-form forward swivelled and volleyed home a Graham Coughlan dink from close range after Crewe had failed to clear a corner.

That was to pave the way for Shrewsbury’s most productive spell immediately after half-time, during which Jake Robinson fired over after meeting an awkward bouncing cross from Kevin McIntyre and Coughlan headed a Jake Simpson header against the post.

An ebb and flow encounter brought chances at both ends with Ama Verma producing a rasping 25 yard drive which forced Phillips to tip the ball around the post at full stretch.

But, just as with the opener during the first half, so the goal that gave Shrewsbury a welcome cushion arrived at the perfect time – midway through the second half – as Joss Labadie drilled a 20-yard effort into the bottom corner.

The two goalscorers both went close to making it three late on while Crewe’s misfortune in front of goal was summed up by Byron Moore striking the foot of the post in injury time.

So a decent performance and an encouraging victory against a Crewe side who look strong enough to suggest they will play a part in the promotion shake up.

If it is followed up with a further three points at Lincoln next week, Town fans will believe their team’s season is very much up and running.

By James Garrison