Terry Dunfield of Shrewsbury Town and Steve Fletcher of AFC Bournemouth

Fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride.

The Shrewsbury Town roller-coaster is about to reach breakneck speed with a minimum of 12 twists and turns along the way.

And Saturday’s narrow but deserved victory over second placed Bournemouth ensured the most thrilling conclusion to this nerve-shredding ride remains a possibility.

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Defeat to the Cherries would have all but ended Town’s hopes of the ultimate prize of automatic promotion.

As it is they now enter the final dozen games with a belief that a top three finish is achieveable, even if – to sound a note of caution – guaranteeing a play-off spot remains the first priority.

“It’s a huge win against a good side,” said Town boss Paul Simpson.

“We struggled against them in the first half and we accept we weren’t as positive as we could have been.

“In the second half, we were much better. We were much more positive and created so many chances that on another day we could have had a bagful.”

Town certainly deserve immense credit for turning Saturday’s game around.

Unimpressive during the first half, Town’s attacking barrage was virtually unstoppable for a spell in the second period.

And while they were slightly fortunate to go into half-time on level terms, they were desperately unlucky not to build on Terry Dunfield’s 48th minute strike with further goals after the break,

It was fitting the Canadian should prove the match-winner after luck deserted him when he put through his own net with the only goal of the reverse fixture in December.

And it capped a fine display from the midfielder who was an influential figure throughout the afternoon.

If his initial impact upon arrival from Macclesfield was been derided this time last year, Dunfield has now cemented his place in the heart of all Shrewsbury fans.

His goal timing was also impeccable, coming after a first half in which Bournemouth created the clearer chances.

The south coast club remain in troubled financial waters, having been served with a winding up order just 24 hours before this clash, and face such limitations on their squad that they could name just four substitutes, two of which were under the age of 18.

Nevertheless, the high-flying Cherries have no shoratge of talent and were asking the majority of the first half questions.

The dangerous Brett Pitman flashed two shots inches wide of the target and put a header on the roof of the net, while Marvin Bartley fired straight at David Button when breaking clear.

But Shrewsbury offered some indication they were finding their stride before half-time when Steve Leslie, Jamie Cureton and Lewis Neal were involved in the move of the match which the latter should have done better with than fire straight at Shwan Jalal.

And that set the tone for a dominant Town display after the break, with the confidence oozing through the hosts from the moment Dunfield lashed homewhat proved the winner from 10 yards after Cureton and Dave Hibbert battled for the ball in the box.

The intensity returned to Shrewsbury’s play in that second half and the visitors struggled to mount a response.

Jalal was at his best to deny Cureton and Neal in quick succession while the Bournemouth threat quickly receded, the only real danger to the goal of birthday boy Button after the break coming from a Pitman free-kick which flashed inches wide.

But it was Shrewsbury who were in full flow in the closing stages and they were twice denied the chance to double the advantage by the same post as the woodwork was left rattling by Jake Robinson and Neal, who was to also have a shot cleared off the line.

But the elusive nature of a second goal mattered not, once referee David Webb – who far from distinguished himself with some questionable decisions – signalled the end of four minutes of injury time.

Job done by Shrewsbury, and dream very much alive.

By James Garrison