Shrewsbury 2 Oldham 0 - Report and pictures

It came with a comfortable win over Oldham Athletic. as a goal in each half from forward pair Liam McAlinden and Tyrone Barnett did the job.

Micky Mellon's largely untroubled men were also able to celebrate the return of long-term stricken pair James Wesolowski and Nathaniel Knight-Percival.

The hosts should have taken the lead with barely 90 seconds on the clock.

Tyrone Barnett took advantage of a high visiting line but, after being slipped in, could not get the better of Oldham goalkeeper David Cornell.

Returning skipper for the evening James Wesolowski continued Salop's bright opening, as he fired a stinging drive straight at Cornell.

Town were playing it around nicely and Barnett almost found himself in again after a neat flick from Abu Ogogo found him again racing in on goal.

Cornell did just about enough to put the striker off though and his prod towards goal lacked power.

Oldham grew into the half and were lively through Mark Yeates and Rhys Turner, a couple of dangerously whipped deliveries.

Town saw Jordan Clark sail a 30 yard free-kick over the top before Liam McAlinden's scuffed cut-back eventually found Barnett, who could only lash over first-time via a deflection.

Shrewsbury Town: Leutwiler, Grandison, Brown, Wesolowski (Lawrence 70), Ellis, Ogogo, McAlinden (Whalley 66), Knight-Percival (Sadler 85), Clark, Barnett, Patterson.

Unused subs: Halstead, Akpa Akpro

Oldham: Cornell, Brown (Murphy 71), Dieng, Wilson, Croft, Jones, Philliskirk, Green (Tuohy 85), Turner (Forte 61), Yeates, Edmundson

Referee: Stephen Martin

Shrewsbury were far from wasteful with their next opening as, six minutes before the break, Clark broke and fed McAlinden.

The young Wolves loanee was composed and executed his left-foot finish well as he powered beyond Cornell.

Mellon may have felt his men should have doubled their advantage as the break drew near.

Clark's deep corner was met by Mark Ellis unchallenged at the far post, but the centre-half could only direct his free header wide.

The hosts were nearly made to regret that miss as George Green flashed a fierce volley straight at goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler, in what proved the last kick of the half.

The second period began as briskly as the first, with Oldham unwittingly almost drawing themselves level.

Jermaine Grandison's attempted clearance hammered off Green and fizzed narrowly wide of Leutwiler's post.

But, moments later, Salop had doubled their advantage. Under no pressure, Athletic skipper James Wilson under hit a backpass and Barnett was in no mood to pass up another chance.

The forward took the ball in his stride before rounding Cornell and finishing comfortably into the empty net.

Shrewsbury were purring and creating openings at will, as Oldham's desire dropped.

Debutant Sam Patterson had been busy down the Salop right side and his teasing cross was inches away from being turned in.

The Latics fired a warning shot just after the hour, though, as Green's long distance strike was parried away low by Leutwiler.

Darren Kelly and his backroom staff were then howling for a spot-kick as Grandison ended up wrong-side of Turner, but the referee saw nothing doing.

The lively Yeates managed to reach the byline and a dangerous looped cross looked to have beat Leutwiler, but landed on the roof of the net.

Substitute Shaun Whalley impressed in his brief cameo and a promising burst from midfield seemed to be cynically ended by Wilson, but the officials were unmoved.

League One rivals Oldham were mostly uninspiring throughout and Salop were coasting for much of the second period.

Whalley's industrious work again created half an opening for the hosts, Junior Brown letting fly from 20 yards straight into the midriff of Cornell.