Stafford 0 Shrewsbury 3

A second-half burst from Shrewsbury saw off Stafford Rangers as the League Two side romped to a routine 3-0 win at Marston Road.

Trailing to a Steve Leslie strike in the first half, Rangers were swept aside by a header from sub Grant Holt after the break and a fine lob from midfielder Kevin McIntyre.

In truth, Rangers had never looked like fighting back in their third pre-season friendly. A high and hopeful shot from sub Damion Jarrett, which sailed over the bar in the 84th minute, was the best they could muster.

Shrews goalkeeper Glyn Garner was a mere spectator throughout.

Had it not been for Stafford goalkeeper Danny Alcock, the scoreline could have been more emphatic. He had already somehow palmed away Richard Walker's low drive, which was goalbound, before the visitors opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

Leslie and David Hibbert combined to release the latter on the left-wing and in went the cross. Alcock got a strong fist to it but could only punch it as far as Leslie, who had practically an open goal.

He put the ball back across goal and under Alcock, who could not get down it to it quick enough, for the lead.

It was Alcock again to the rescue after the break, his outstreched hand enough to parry David Hunt's goalbound effort to safety.

There was little he could do about the Shrews' second goal in the 64th minute. Record signing Holt, who had only just joined the action, will get few easier chances to hit the back of the net.

The £150,000 man was completely unmarked in the box when Darren Moss put the cross over, leaving Holt the simple task of heading the ball past Alcock into the net, who barely saw it.

Minutes later, he was picking the ball out of the back of the net again. Again, there was little he could do about it. The ball came to McIntyre some 20-yards away from goal and he had a go.

The ball went high into the air and into Alcock's far corner, with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

STAFFORD: Alcock, Gibson, Hines, Amos, Pierpoint (Francis), Loukes (Ingram), Palmer, McPherson, McNiven (Jarrett), Dovey, Wilson.