Lee Sawyer of Barnet and Joe Skarz of Shrewsbury Town

Slowly but surely, Shrewsbury Town are warming to their promotion challenge.

A run of just one defeat since Rochdale ran Paul Simpson’s men ragged on December 19 continued with a routine success over Barnet on a numbingly cold night at the Prostar Stadium.

And the belief is now growing that a season which appeared to be drifting away at Christmas could now be on course for a gripping conclusion.

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Shrewsbury are producing their best form of the season just when they need it most, even allowing for a second half display which lacked the fluency of the first last night.

Defensively Town have become a tough nut to crack, while they are producing enough moments of offensive quality to keep the victories rolling in.

And with Steve Leslie seemingly determined to stage his own Goal of the Month competition for February, anything is possible.

If Leslie’s stunning strike at Macclesfield on Saturday was based on precision, the unstoppable rocket he unleashed after 28 minutes last night owed much to power, cutting in from the right before thundering a 20-yard shot in off the underside of the bar.

Both were equally as eye-catching and, in doubling the lead which was given to the hosts courtesy of Craig Disley’s first goal in Shrewsbury colours 16 minutes earlier, he effectively ended the game as a contest.

“I thought it was a professional performance,” said Simpson, whose surprise at seeing Barnet’s danger wingers Albert Adomah and Albert Jarrett start on the bench must only have been matched by his delight at Ian Hendon’s selection.

“We accept we got put under pressure second half and maybe we stopped passing the ball and went a bit too direct.

“But it’s a good win because even though they have been on a bad run, they have got pace and people who can score goals.

“We have got two goals and a clean sheet so I’m delighted.”

If the second period proved crucial to Town’s victory at Moss Rose, it was the opening half which laid the platform for victory 72 hours later.

Within 30 seconds Disley had seen a fine effort saved by Jake Cole in the Barnet goal and that paved the way for a highly encouraging opening period from Shrewsbury.

No surprise, then, when the breakthrough arrived on 12 minutes with a deft, flicked header from Disley enough to send a teasing left wing cross from Lewis Neal into the net.

If Town’s opening goal was fully deserved, then the second strike was also merited shortly before the half hour.

Again Neal was at the centre of the build-up, sweeping a delightful crossfield ball from left to right.

That picked out Leslie who bagged his second scorching goal in as many starts.

Town, again lining up with the excellent Disley offering support to lone striker Dave Hibbert, made all the running in the first half, although Mark Hughes did loop a header onto the roof of the net in a rare attack for the visitors.

Shrewsbury failed to hit their straps after the break, and Barnet briefly threatened to force their way back in as they enjoyed plenty of possession around the hour mark.

But, with Kevin McIntyre and Terry Dunfield again working tirelessly in midfield, Shrewsbury held firm for a second successive clean sheet to cap a night of frustration for Barnet, their 37 fans and John O’Flynn.

The Irish striker rejected the chance to make a £100,000 move to Shrewsbury just a week ago.

Only he will know if that decision is now proving a cause for regret but, despite promising early movement, O’Flynn was well shackled by a water-tight Town defence which has now conceded just four goals in the last seven games.

It is a record which is laying the foundations for a run which is sending Shrewsbury firmly back in the promotion picture.

By James Garrison