Dowson, on loan from Sunderland, set the ball rolling straight after the break and two superb strikes from Ward – the first a goal of the season contender – left the Spireites 3-0 ahead with 30 minutes remaining.

The goals left relegation-threatened Shrewsbury without a win in 14 games and although they hit a consolation in the 81st minute, Dowson restored Chesterfield's three-goal cushion right at the end.

Colin Hawkins, on loan from Coventry, made his Saltergate debut alongside Aaron Downes in central defence while Michael Barnes, who had a brief loan spell with the Blues earlier this season, was in the Shrews starting line-up.

It would be unfair to suggest that Chesterfield's defence was given a stern test by the opposition, however, Hawkins and Downes looked solid together.

The visitors had a lucky escape in the 13th minute when keeper Glyn Garner made a point-blank save from Ward and they had another let-off six minutes later when they were saved by the linesman's flag, raised to rule the same striker off-side as he found the net.

Kevin Cooper replaced Peter Hartley at the start of the second half and within two minutes Chesterfield had taken the lead.

Dowson demonstrated his Priemiership prowess when he received a pass from Ward and beat Garner from 20 yards with a low right-foot shot that fizzed into the corner of the net.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to a tremendous finish from the livewire Ward.

A Derek Niven free kick was headed skywards by a visiting defender and Ward volleyed the ball home as it fell to earth.

The Spireites frontman made a perfect contact from just outside the penalty area and Garner was a spectator as the ball bulged the net.

Shrewsbury fear they may slip through the trapdoor into the Conference and brought on two fresh players in a bid to chase the game.

But it the 59th minute, Chesterfield sealed the victory – and completed the double over the Shropshire club – with a swift move from defence to attack.

Keeper Barry Roche fed the ball to Jamie Lowry who picked out Ward with a pin-point Beckham-like cross field pass.

Ward had already turned on the afterburners to leave the Shrewsbury rearguard trailing in his wake and an excellent finish took his total for the season to 11.

The visitors had hardly given Roche a busy afternoon but they did pull one back - a well-struck Kevin McIntyre effort from 25 yards - after a run of three corners.

Bruce Dyer, like half-time sub Cooper a million-pound man, replaced Steve Fletcher with eight minutes left and the much travelled front man had an impact on his debut, setting up Dowson for the fourth.

He found the net with his left foot from the edge of the area and received a big ovation from the supporters when he was replaced almost immediately by Lloyd Kerry.