Town 2 Bury 0 - Report and pictures

Sullay Kaikai put them ahead in the 28th minute, four minutes after hitting the post.

And victory after a run of six defeats in eight games was secured by a tremendous 25-yard angled volley by man of the match Abu Ogogo 17 minutes from time.

Kaikai went off injured at half-time after Bury had been on top for most of the half, Leon Clarke having a header disallowed for a push.

Shrewsbury Town (3-4-3): Leutwiler; Smith, Whitbread, Knight-Percival; Tootle (Gerrard 69) Lawrence, Ogogo, J Brown; Kaikai (Akpa Akpro HT) Barnett, Cole (Collins 73).

Subs not used: Sadler, McAlinden, Clark, Rowley (gk).

Bury (4-1-4-1): McCarey; Riley, Cameron (Mohammed 84), P Clarke, Hussey; R Brown (Rose 60); Eagles (Pope 50), Soares, Mellis, Maylor; L Clarke.

Subs not used: Sedgwick, Burgess, Dudley, Ruddy (gk).

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

But the hosts deserved their victory for the tireless way they fought and closed down the Shakers. Bury launched a fierce aerial assault on the home goal after the break.

David Mayor forced a one-handed save from Jayson Leutwiler, who denied Reece Brown in the first half, but Salop held firm and Ogogo won't better his first goal for the club.

Town boss Micky Mellon made two changes to the line-up beaten 2-1 by Doncaster on Tuesday.

Zak Whitbread came in for his home debut and first start, after his bow as a substitute at Scunthorpe last Saturday.

He came in for the injured Ian Black and Tyrone Barnett was recalled at the expense of Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, who was on the bench.

Joining him was non-contract signing Anthony Gerrard, whose capture was announced on Thursday.

Gerrard, who hasn't played since May, was preferred at the expense of Mark Ellis, who failed to make the match-day squad.

Bury handed debuts to Wolves keeper Aaron McCarey, who signed on an emergency loan after regular shot-stopper Rob Lainton suffered an injury, and Chris Eagles, who signed this week.

The Shakers showed why they are League One's second-best away side by controlling long periods of the first-half.

But they couldn't score the goals that their territorial advantage showed and it was Town who went into the break ahead.

David Flitcroft's outfit threatened in the second minute through left back Chris Hussey, but his low drive flew well wide.

Then it was Reece Brown's turn and his skidding drive from 25 yards in the 16th minute had to be turned around the post by goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler.

But Town, who were forced to play a counter-attacking game, did just that as Kaikai's curling volley on the run smacked against the post on 24.

They changed formation to cope with the advanced threat of Hussey by switching to a flat back four.

Nathaniel Knight-Percival was at left-back and Junior Brown pushed on as a left-sided midfielder, with Larnell Cole behind Barnett.

Four minutes after hitting the post, Kaikai put Town ahead when he took a touch on Abu Ogogo's pass before rifling a fierce drive past McCarey from just inside the area.

The Irish goalkeeper got a hand to it but the power of the shot beat him, as Kaikai celebrated his third goal for Town.

Bury, who forced numerous corners, continued to boss possession and the sliding Nathan Cameron was inches away from Reece Brown's deep cross on 33.

Seven minutes later, Town returned to the attack and Kaikai's low left footed curling effort was heading for the bottom corner before Peter Clarke stuck out a foot to divert it away.

But the on-loan Crystal Palace winger was injured by a late challenge which forced a long delay before he limped off for more treatment.

Buoyed by their lead, Salop were working tremendously hard to close down Bury, which kept the crowd on side.

Led by the energetic Ogogo, who had his best game for Town, they charged into tackles and refused to let Bury get the better of them.

Kaikai was clearly struggling and was replaced at half-time by Akpa Akpro, who started at wide right.

Town had the first chance of the second period on 50 when Barnett blazed high and wide after Ogogo won it high up the pitch then picked him out with a pass.

Bury made their first change on 50 when they brought on Tom Pope for Eagles.

With the height and aerial power of the lanky Pope and Leon Clarke, they went increasingly direct.

Seven minutes later, Bury fans behind the goal cheered what they thought was the equaliser.

But Reece Brown's low drive brushed the side-netting, with Leutwiler rooted to the spot and anxiously looking to his left.

Shrewsbury lacked nothing in determination and were matching their big-spending opponents stride for stride.

On 65, Akpa Akpro, who hit a hat-trick against Bury in Town's 5-0 win over them last season, had a chance of another.

But his low effort was too close to McCarey, after a loose ball broke following a tussle between Barnett and Peter Clarke.

To cope with the aerial bombardment, Town brought on Anthony Gerrard in the 69th minute, the centre-back replacing Matt Tootle at right-back.

Almost immediately the former Walsall and Cardiff man was dumped on his backside by Danny Mayor, who cut inside before letting fly, Leutwiler stopping it with his left hand before it was hacked away.