A header from substitute Joe Thompson on the hour mark sealed a 1-0 win at the Prostar Stadium for Dale.
Thompson had only been on the pitch two minutes when he stooped to nod home a 62nd minute winner in front of 704 travelling Dale fans.
In a first half which was dominated by Dale, Tom Kennedy hit a post with a cross from the left whilst David Button had to make some good saves to keep out ranges from effort.
Shrewsbury saw more of the ball in the second half but Thompson's goal seemed deflate the home side, with things getting even worse for them moments later when Shane Cansdell-Sheriff was sent off for a professional foul on Chris Dagnall.
Shrewsbury came forward in search of an equaliser late on but strong defending from Dale kept them out as Keith Hill's side extended their lead at the top of League Two to nine points.
Dale's line-up was missing a familiar name ahead of the game, with Craig Dawson missing out on the squad due to his facial injuries. Frank Fielding was in goal, whilst Scott Wiseman returned to right-back, with Rory McArdle moving to centre-back to partner Nathan Stanton, with Tom Kennedy at left-back. Keith Hill opted for three in midfield as Gary Jones, Jason Kennedy and Jason Taylor lined up, with Kallum Higginbotham, Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall forming a front three.
As part of the Help For Heroes campaign, an RAF helicopter brought the match ball to the Prostar Stadium as it landed in the centre circle to the applause of the crowd inside the stadium.
Dale were hoping for a hero themselves today as they looked to maintain their six point lead at the top of League Two, and after a slow start Dale's early hero could have been Shrewsbury 'keeper David Button.
Tom Kennedy crossed right footed from the left which evaded everyone and was left by Button as he expected the ball to go for a goal kick. However, the ball cannoned back off the upright and fortunately for the former Dale loanee rebounded to a Shrewsbury defender before it was cleared.
That moment was perhaps an early wake up call for Paul Simpson's side as they carved out their first opportunity of the game minutes later. Benjamin van den Broek ran down the right and cut inside onto his left foot, unleashing a wicked shot which Frank Fielding did well to tip over his crossbar for a corner kick.
Jake Robinson was next to cause trouble for the Dale defence as he ran down that right side again, but Rory McArdle did well to block his shot as it flew over the bar for another corner.
Shrewsbury's van den Broek almost turned hero to villain within a matter of minutes for the Shrews when he almost played in Dale's Chris Dagnall. An attempted back pass to Joe Skarz was a little wayward which allowed Dagnall to use his pace and pressure Skarz. He was forced wide by the defence but still managed to find Chris O'Grady who shot wide.
Shrewsbury goalkeeper David Button's first twenty minutes were very edgy, and only the referee saved him further embarrassment when he dropped the ball when he should have caught it easily, but referee D'Urso deemed that Chris O'Grady had forced Button into the error.
However, Button had to make amends moments later when he tipped wide a fizzing Gary Jones effort from 25 yards out as Dale started to up the pressure with a quarter of the game gone.
Kallum Higginbotham was playing in a deep role just behind Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall and was seeing a lot of the ball and a lot of the pitch as the youngster popped up everywhere in a role which he clearly enjoys.
It was Dale's number 18 that launched Dale's next attack as he picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove at the Shrewsbury defence. Chris Dagnall made a run ahead of and Higginbotham was able to pick him out, but Dagnall couldn't quite get the ball past David Button and the Shrewsbury 'keeper showed bravery to come out at the feet of Chris O'Grady twice to deny him a simple tap-in.
The 704 Dale fans that made the trip to the Prostar Stadium were witnessing their side cause the Shrewsbury defence problems at every opportunity. Gary Jones had another strike from distance that looked dangerous but took a deflection wide for a corner.
Jason Taylor was next to trouble David Button from distance as his venomous shot from 25 yards was well held by the Shrewsbury stopper.
As the game came towards half-time Shrewsbury began to gain more of the possession, but strong defending from Dale meant Paul Simpson's side couldn't find a way through.
With one minute of added time signalled by the fourth official it was Dale who came closest to scoring, as a Tom Kennedy free kick in the dying seconds of the half hit the top of the crossbar meaning the sides went in goalless.
At half-time there were rumours around the Prostar Stadium that the helicopter would be returning to drop another ball off for Shrewsbury to play with in the second half, but the teams came out for the second period with Dale hoping to continue where they left off.
The second half took a while to get into its stride, but Shrewsbury were certainly coming more into the game and they hit the same post that Dale did in the first half through another former Dale loanee Shane Cansdell-Sheriff. A corner was swung in and met by the head of Sheriff who diverted the ball onto the post before firing the rebound into the side netting of Frank Fielding's goal.
On the hour mark Joe Thompson came on for Kallum Higginbotham and he went straight into the same role that Higginbotham had been playing just behind the two strikers.
What a substitution that turned out to be by Keith Hill, as Thompson went on to nod home the opener just two minutes after coming on. Tom Kennedy whipped in a free kick from the left to Thompson at the back post where he was given the simple task of heading home past David Button to give the Dale the lead with little under half an hour remaining.
That goal sparked the healthy Dale following into life, but Keith Hill's side would have to make sure they kept it tight at the back as Shrewsbury looked for an instant equaliser.
However, the home side didn't really offer any attacking threat in the moments following the goal as Dale were happy to keep possession by stroking it around the park. Jason Kennedy is still awaiting his first goal for the club and he had a good chance with just over 20 minutes to go, but his shot was straight at David Button.
With Dale always dangerous on the counter attack Shrewsbury would have to be wary. However, Shane Cansdell-Sheriff wasn't alert when Chris Dagnall pressed him into a slip, and as Dagnall was set to break clear in the Shrewsbury half Sheriff committed a cynical foul as he pulled Dagnall back, hauling him to the ground. Sure enough Andy D'Urso produced a red card for the Shrews defender, making their uphill task even steeper.
With Dale having the extra man it meant they could take their time in building up the play so they could draw Shrewsbury out and look to play around them. Tom Kennedy went mightily close with a fine effort after a short corner routine with Gary Jones, with his effort going just wide of David Button's top left corner.
Captain Gary Jones was involved in a Dale attack again moments later when his shot from the edge of the area was spilt by David Button, such was the ferocity of the strike, but the stopper was able to pick it up at the second opportunity with Joe Thompson ready to nick in.
As the game entered the final five minutes Shrewsbury had to throw men forward, but with Dale's defence still holding firm they couldn't find a way past which meant Dale were always dangerous on the counter attack. Chris O'Grady laid off Gary Jones on the edge of the box in the 89th minute, but the skipper just dragged his shot wide of Button's right post.
Three minutes of added time were signalled by the fourth official as Shrewsbury came forward in desperate search of a late equaliser. They won a corner which even David Button came forward for, but in the end Chris Bright nodded over to relieve the pressure off Dale.
That was the last action of the game as referee D'Urso blew for full-time seeing Dale move nine points clear at the top of League Two.
Dale: Fielding, Wiseman, McArdle, Stanton, T Kennedy, Jones, J Kennedy, Taylor, Higginbotham, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Shrewsbury: Button, Skarz, Coughlan, Dunfield, Langmead, Cureton, Robinson, van den Broek, Neal, Cansdell-Sherriff, McIntyre.
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex). Assistant Referees: Steve Cook (Derbyshire) & Andy Hendley (West Yorkshire). Fourth Official: Neil Radford (Worcestershire).
Attendance: 6,081 (704).
