Shirtliff told the Nottingham Evening Post "It was a good morale-booster to get that win under our belts.
"I thought it was a decent game and we played well. We scored a great goal and kept a clean sheet.
"I was pleased for the defence and pleased for Jason White in goal who has worked hard and been unlucky not to get a clean sheet so far.
"That was the sort of effort and grit we have got to show to get results.
"September has been a difficult month - Saturday will be our eighth game of the month.
"That is a hell of a lot for a small squad and one or two are running on empty. We will get them through the rest of this week and we go to Walsall in good spirits.