Recent wins over high-flying Peterborough and Darlington, with a point at table-topping Carlisle sandwiched in between, had seen the Gay Meadow side move away from the lower reaches of League Two to start casting glances toward a play-off spot. But it was firmly back to square one after lowly Bury held out for 89 minutes to claim a deserved victory.
This scrappy, often tetchy encounter was ultimately settled after 90 seconds when Shrewsbury central defender Richard Hope diverted, with a glancing header, a long throw from Bury skipper Dave Challinor past Joe Hart and into the Shrewsbury net.
From that point onward Shrewsbury often pushed hard for a leveller, but could not find a way past young Bury 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel. Currently on-loan from Manchester City, Schmiechel junior was watched from the stand by his famous father Peter - who must have been impressed by the handling and positioning of his son that did much to keep Shrewsbury at bay.
Young Schmeichel impressed on an number of occasions, but none more than the 15th minute when he plunged to his right to palm away a low shot from Shrewsbury striker Mark Stallard.
After the break Shrewsbury continued to press, but much of their forward play was found lacking in ideas and despite the odd scare, Bury secured the points without many undue alarms.