IT wasn't pretty but goals from Matt Bloomfield and Russell Martin kept Wanderers on course for automatic promotion.

The Blues saw off the Shrews with a no-frills workmanlike performance which heaped the pressure right back on leaders Carlisle United who won 3-0 at Northampton on Friday.

Wycombe have blazed a trail of glory this season with their slick passing style but in a sport where no points are given for artistic impression a win was all that mattered and Wanderers duly delivered.

Manager John Gorman said: "We have proved all season that we can play good football. Now is the time to just get results. We did it on Saturday and we've got to do just the same next Saturday."

Gorman pleaded with the home team's fans to raise the roof before last Saturday's match and we sent our reporter Nic Brunetti along with a decibel meter to make sure the fans did their bit.

And our reporter did not have to wait long before the needle was pointing skywards.

Dean Bowditch produced a loud "Oooh" on 13 minutes when he latched onto a brilliantly-weighted chest pass from Jermaine Easter to lash his shot just over the top of the visitors' crossbar.

And just two minutes later Blues were in front.

Tommy Mooney drilled in a low cross from the right which Matt Bloomfield controlled before drilling low into the opposite corner past England U19 keeper Joe Hart.

England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence was in the stands to watch Hart, but there was nothing the young keeper could have done to stop Bloomers' effort which was a rare highlight in a first half low on entertainment.

Without the suspended Kevin Betsy and the injured Sergio Torres, Wanderers were devoid of much of their normal creativity, while the bobbly pitch and the persistent whistle blowing of referee Andy Woolmer did little to improve the game as a contest.

Assistant boss Steve Brown said: "Any time we got any momentum the referee put a stop to it."

That, coupled with the amount of possession Wanderers conceded in midfield, meant that there were times when the decibel meter was redundant.

But although Shrewsbury saw plenty of ball, they failed to create any noteworthy chances from open play during the entire 90 minutes as Rob Lee provided an effective buffer in front of the back four for Wanderers.

Gorman rang the changes in the second half and all three of his substitutions had the desired effect as Wycombe asserted more control and doubled their lead through Martin on 73 minutes.

The substitute lashed home an unstoppable shot from 14-yards after fellow substitute Ian Stonebridge had combined with Mooney to create the chance.

Stonebridge robbed Ben Herd before advancing to the byline where he crossed for Mooney who headed the ball down for Martin to score his second of the season.

It was a massive relief for Martin, who came on in the right back position only to suffer a nightmarish introduction and be switched into midfield.

Gorman said: "We brought Russell on to play at right back to let Danny Senda get forward but we soon swapped it over."

Martin revelled in the midfield. Having scored one he almost turned provider with just two minutes remaining.

He whipped in a cross from the right that was so inviting that Mooney and substitute Charlie Griffin both wanted it and ended up getting in each other's way.

Afterwards Brown said: "It was a game we had to win and we did. We are delighted to get the result but neither side really got into their groove.

"Our first goal was probably the best bit of football all day."

Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Johnson, Williamson, Easton, Bloomfield, Bowditch (Stonebridge 62), Lee, Oakes (Martin 62), Easter (Griffin 78), Mooney. Subs Not Used: Williams, Antwi.

Goals: Bloomfield 15, Martin 73.

Shrewsbury: Hart, Herd (Cowan 76), Hope, Burton, Ashton, Sorvel, McClen, Edwards, Stallard (Adaggio 40), Langmead, McMenamin. Subs Not Used: Cronin, Hogg, Sharp.

Booked: Burton.

Attendance: 5,035 (Shrewsbury 298).

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Wycombe 2,Shrewsbury Town 0