On a rain sodden afternoon in South Buckinghamshire, Wycombe Wanderers seemingly relentless march showed no signs of slipping up as a Rolando Aarons goal saw them defeat Shrewsbury Town by a goal to nil.

It was a tight and tense encounter in which the quality of the football only occasionally elevated above the dank weather, but Gareth Ainsworth’s men were as clinical and as resolute as ever against a strong Shrews side whose endeavour was not enough to unlock the stingy home defence.

The visitors had much of the play from the kick-off but Wycombe seemed content to let them play the ball in front of the defensive line with long-range efforts from Donald Love and Jason Cummings flying past Ryan Allsop’s posts.

The defence was finally unlocked just after 23 minutes when Shaun Whalley fed Cummings in the box. With much of the goal to aim for, Whalley fired tamely at Allsop whose heart must have skipped a beat when it squirmed away from his grasp, yet it spun wide of the post.

Wanderers only effort of note was a long range effort from Scott Kashket which was well held by Max O’Leary.

Town may have been pleased with their first 45 minutes but also frustrated that their possession hadn’t resulted in more chances or that their best chance hadn’t resulted in a goal.

Chances against Wycombe have been at a premium in recent weeks and failing to take them can be costly – and lo and behold the visitors were made to pay after the break.

Wycombe started with a bit more purpose and on 57 minutes a Joe Jacobson free-kick was flicked on by Darius Charles to Aarons. The Newcastle United loanee made no mistake from close range in scoring his first Wanderers goal.

From then on it was a war of attrition as the rain continued to cascade from the sky. There were few chances with Curtis Thompson firing wide for Wycombe and Cummings seeing his effort for Shrewsbury. Wycombe were controlling the tempo and the Shrews frustration boiled over in injury time as Ro-Shaun Williams was sent for the afternoon’s warmest shower slightly ahead of schedule after picking up two quick bookings – one for dissent and one for a push on Adebayo Akinfenwa.

The result means Wycombe move back to the top of League One, three points clear of Ipswich Town who have played two fewer games than the Chairboys. It was Wanderers third 1-0 victory in four games but whereas the goals have dried up a tad, defensively they’re looking close to impenetrable with Allsop facing just four efforts on target in those four matches. There is little pressure on the forwards knowing that just one goal should be enough to clinch all three points. It’s a case of two opponents in three competitions for Ainsworth’s men over the next as they face Tranmere Rovers in the F.A. Cup followed by MK Dons in the Leasing.com trophy and then Tranmere again in their next league game, all three matches taking place away from Adams Park.

Shrewsbury meanwhile find themselves in twelfth, well clear of the relegation zone but also five points off the play-off zone as their mini unbeaten run comes to an end. They face third-placed Peterborough on Tuesday before their F.A. Cup adventure commences with the visit of Bradford City next week.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS 1 (Aarons 57) SHREWSBURY TOWN 0

ATT: 4,826 (420 away)

words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe correspondent