Shrewsbury 4 Exeter 0 - Report and pictures

Two goals from Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro and one each from James Collins and Tyrone Barnett saw Salop take another big leap towards promotion.

Despite being without the suspended Connor Goldson and Ryan Woods, Salop controlled proceedings from the first whistle to the last in one of their best displays of the season.

Following the suspensions, boss Micky Mellon made two changes from the side that secured a fifth straight victory against Mansfield.

Switching to a 4-4-2 formation, Keith Southern and Jordan Clark came in for the banned pair who picked up their 10th yellow cards of the season in the win against the Stags.

Mellon named talented young winger Josh Ginnelly on the bench, despite revealing in midweek the teenager is stalling on a new contract with Premier League clubs said to be interested.

On a sunny yet windy day at Greenhous Meadow, Salop fans were appealing for a penalty inside the first two minutes when Collins skipped past a defender and was then tripped in the box.

The striker was adamant he had been fouled but was left punching the floor in anger, as his protests were waved away by referee Charles Breakspear.

Town were passing the ball around crisply in the opening stages and they made their possession tell by taking the lead just before the 20 minute mark.

The lively Clark saw a deflected shot from distance fall kindly for Akpa Akpro, who swivelled in the box before firing past Grecians goalkeeper James Hamon.

Shrewsbury were enjoying almost complete control as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark with Exeter struggling to get out of their own half.

But on a rare foray forward, the Grecians came close to pulling level when Lee Holmes' low 25-yard strike had to be pushed around the post by goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler.

Town approached the half-time break by passing the ball around at will, in match that almost had a training ground feel for Mellon's men.

However, the Grecians almost pulled level in stoppage time when a loose Leutwiler kick fell to Ryan Harley 25 yards from goal.

With the goal gapping, Harley looked to steady himself, but Liam Lawrence was on hand to expertly sweep in and clear the danger.

Salop continued controlling proceedings at the start of the second-half and they almost doubled their advantage in the 50th minute.

Lawrence delivered a whipped in free-kick from the left, with Jermaine Grandison rising highest and heading just wide of Hamon's goal.

The only criticism you could level at Town as the clock ticked towards the hour mark was that they weren't further ahead with the match being almost completely played in the Exeter half.

And with his side under the cosh, Grecians boss Paul Tisdale responded by introducing David Wheeler and Clinton Morrison for Graham Cummins and Danny Butterfields.

But the substitutes weren't given any chance to influence the game with Town doubling their advantage just seconds later.

A Lawrence corner bobbled around in the Grecians box and fell kindly for Collins who emphatically smashed the ball past Hamon.

The Meadow was now rocking with the Salop fans loudly roaring 'the Town are going up.'And with 15 minutes left to play, Town made it 3-0.

Clark did brilliantly get the byline and cut the ball back to Akpa Akpro who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

With his side enjoying total control, Mellon made a triple change with strikers Andy Mangan, Tyrone Barnett and Scott Vernon all coming on.

Akpa Akpro, Collins and Clark were the three players who made way, with each one being given a standing ovation from the crowd following tireless displays.

With fresh legs, Town went in search of a fourth with Vernon trying an audacious flick as he looked to tuck the ball home following Cameron Gayle's low cross.

But with the fourth official indicating three minutes of stoppage time, Salop grabbed another in spectacular fashion.

Mangan and Barnett combined on the edge of the Exeter box with Barnett then rifling a half-volley into the top corner and beyond the outstretched arms of Hamon.

It was a wonderful goal from the former Peterborough striker and capped off a perfect day, as Town swept aside Exeter with a near perfect display.