The Reds picked up their fourth league away win of the season in Shropshire on Saturday afternoon.
Adam Phillips' strike in the tenth minute was enough to send Michael Duff's men back to South Yorkshire with all three points in what was a closely-fought encounter.
The affair began almost instantaneously with a stoppage, with Tom Bayliss picking up a facial injury after challenging for an aerial ball with Phillips.
Barnsley soon had the lead inside the opening ten minutes. Herbie Kane played an incisive ball through to Devante Cole in the area. The striker, with his back to goal, held up the ball and rolled to Phillips who was waiting on the edge of the area. The midfielder made no mistake, sweeping home into the bottom right-hand corner of Marko Marosi’s goal with his left foot.
However, Salop nearly mounted a quick response. Ryan Bowman was millimetres away from connecting with Bayliss’ enticing ball across the six-yard box for an almost certain goal for the Shrews’ number nine.
The Reds almost doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. The first of two big chances fell to Nicky Cadden, who at the back stick received the ball, but wanted a little bit too much time and his pocket was picked by Rekeil Pyke.
The ball was then recycled and whipped in by Cadden, Cole heading a looping effort that was clawed out by Marosi. The save fell into the path - awkwardly - of Slobodan Tedic who couldn’t control his effort and fired wide.
HALF TIME: Shrewsbury 0-1 Barnsley
The second period began slowly, with neither side building anything of note in the attack. The home side grew into the affair, enjoying more of their possession higher up the pitch but failing to trouble Brad Collins in the Reds goal.
Tedic and Cole both had the opportunity to fire from range, with the former blazing over and the latter’s effort being blocked by the Shrews defence.
The action in the second half was devoid of any real quality from either side, with neither shot stopper having much to do under the floodlights at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Collins caught bravely from a late, long ball from Luke Leahy but was caught in the process by an incoming Shrews forward, leaving him clattered at his near post. This caused a melee in the box which halted play briefly, before the Reds saw out another impressive result on their travels.
FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury 0-1 Barnsley
Collins, Williams, Edwards, Kitching, Andersen (c), Cadden, Kane, Phillips, Tedic, Cole, Connell.
Unused: Walton, Martin, Hondermarck, Larkeche.
