Darlington gained revenge for a Christmas thrashing at Shrewsbury with a comprehensive victory that extended their unbeaten run to five games.
The 4-0 reverse at Gay Meadow has sent Darlington on a run that has seen them climb into a play-off position, and on this form they would be quite capable to maintain that until the end of the season.
Shrewsbury had some early chances but they failed to take them. In the tenth minute, Darlington goalkeeper Sam Russell superbly turned away a stinging volley from Jake Sedgemore, and Russell also came to his side's aid in the 25th minute when he raced across his goal-line to push away a clever free-kick from Jamie Tolley that looked destined for the back of the net.
Darlington had chances of their own through Alun Armstrong and Adrian Webster before they eventually took the lead in the 28th minute when Webster slipped a low ball to the near post and Neil Wainwright fired in from almost on the goal-line.
In the second half, Webster pulled up with a hamstring injury, and was replaced by young midfielder Mark Convery in the 53rd minute.
Two minutes later, Russell again came to his side's rescue with another reflex save to deny Kelvin Langmead who had led the Shrewsbury line alone.
Darlington soon increased their lead, however, in the 67th minute as Armstrong picked up possession and fed Craig Hignett, who turned his man before firing high into the net from eight yards.
Shrewsbury had a couple of opportunities to reduce the arrears. In the 70th minute, Sam Aiston saw his eight-yard shot kept out by Russell, and two minutes later Trevor Challis fired straight at the Darlington keeper.
Darlington made sure of the win in the 74th minute with Hignett's second goal of the game. Shrewsbury keeper, Scott Howie, beat away a Convery drive and also kept out the follow-up from Neil Wainright, but he was beaten at the third attempt as Hignett struck the ball home for his second goal of the game.