Town 2 Rochdale 0 - Report and pictures

Almost 12 years on from etching their names in club history, Town invited members of the Conference promotion-winning squad plus manager Jimmy Quinn to Greenhous Meadow.

And they were treated to one of Shrewsbury's best home performances of the season by the Class of 2016.

Shaun Whalley (12) continued his trend of scoring important goals with his fifth of the season to reward a cracking start.

Then Nathaniel Knight-Percival rubberstamped a first home league win in eight attempts - since 2-0 against Bury on October 24 - just before the break.

It was all-round emphatic performance from Town, who made it back-to-back clean sheets and three league shutouts in their last four.

Micky Mellon's side are always at their best when they play to a high tempo, and Rochdale struggled to live with them as they started on the front foot and kept their foot to the floor.

Andy Mangan had the first sight of goal in the opening seconds with a wild shot that flew high and wide.

They maintained their early momentum and there was a terrific cross from Jack Grimmer, but neither Shaun Whalley, Kyle Vassell or Andy Mangan sliding in could get there.

Town didn't have long to wait to earn their early lead however as left back Jim McNulty allowed Ian Black's long pass to drop over his head and Whalley was on to it in a flash, outpacing him before drilling across Josh Lillis with a low shot in off the post.

Salop continued to make the running and they carved out a brilliant move after a quarter of an hour.

Vassell chipped a fine reverse ball over the top for Jordan Clark, whose cross was met by Mangan but keeper Josh Lillis smothered as he slid in.

Suddenly Rochdale seemed to realise they were in a game and they created a great chance as Ian Henderson was played on in between Jack Grimmer and Zak Whitbread, but blazed over from an excellent opening.

Town hit back again however as they continued to play at a high tempo.

Whalley and Clark exchanged passes and Vassell chested down for Mangan, whose shot was blocked.

Vassell was looking hungry and was having an excellent game and he cut inside for a left-footed drive that took a deflection and flew wide, Black somehow blasting the ball high over the Pro-Vision CCTV Stand from Whalley's resulting corner.

Dale were struggling to contain Whalley and after taking a short pass from Clark, he surged inside from the left before letting fly only for Niall Canavan to stick his head in the way.

From the resulting corner, the ball eventually reached Knight-Percival, whose looping header was nodded off the line.

But there was a scare for Town on 37 as shots by Henderson then Grant Holt were blocked, the latter by Grimmer's chest on the line after Jayson Leutwiler smothered.

Dale threatened again when Matthew Lund and Peter Vincenti saw shots blocked after Knight-Percival nodded a header off the line.

In between, back came Salop however as Dale survived a penalty call when Joe Rafferty upended Mangan in the box chasing Black's long pass.

Town needn't have worried however as they doubled their lead seconds before half-time when Knight-Percival steamed in at the far post for a downward header from Whalley's outswinging corner.

And no one could complain at the scoreline as Shrewsbury deserved their half-time advantage after a much-improved, entertaining performance played at a cracking tempo.

Dale made a double substitution at half-time in a bid to get back into the game as Reuben Noble-Lazarus and Joe Bunney replaced Peter Vincenti and Michael Rose.

But Town started as they meant to go on as Vassell flicked on and Mangan let fly with a rising first-time left foot volley that sailed over.

There was a scare for the hosts on 53 when Knight-Percival's attempted slice behind was almost an own goal after Jack Grimmer allowed a forward to shoot and it deflected into his path.

Town's next opening came from the boot of Mangan, whose free kick curled fiercely goalwards but straight at the crouching Lillis.

Dale came more into the game in what was a more even second half, but they failed to penetrate a determined rearguard in which Knight-Percival was imperious in a real captain's performance leading from the front.

Rochdale had a sniff of goal just after the hour from a corner but Ashley Eastham glanced well wide.

But Town showed they meant business by threatening twice again in a performance that really warmed the hearts of the fans.

First the tireless Vassell spun inside the box on 75 and from a reducing angle, drilled a low drive that flashed just wide of the far post.

Four minutes later, Whalley blazed over from 20 yards after Town intercepted and Clark surged forward and ignored Mangan sprinting to his left.

Town couldn't add to their advantage but it didn't matter - the points were in the bag for a welcome home win.

Perhaps they should go back to the future more often.

Town (4-3-3): Leutwiler 7; Grimmer 7, Whitbread 7, KNIGHT-PERCIVAL 8, Brown 7; Ogogo 7, Black 7, Clark 6; Whalley 8, Vassell 8, Mangan 7 (Akpa Akpro 85).

Subs not used: Wellens, Vernon, Cole, Smith, Grandin, Halstead (gk).

Rochdale (4-2-1-3): Lillis; Rafferty (Camps 60), Eastham, Canavan, McNulty; Allen, Lund; Rose (Bunney HT), Holt, Vincenti (Noble-Lazarus HT); Henderson.

Subs not used: Bennett, McDermott, Mendez-Laing, Collis (gk).

Referee: Ben Toner (Lancs).

Attendance: 4,221 (177 Dale fans).