Shrewsbury Town Reserves 4 Oldham Athletic Reserves 0
Shrewsbury Town's first-team hopefuls issued a timely remainder of their talents to watching boss Graham Turner as the reserves launched their Central League campaign in emphatic style.
Town had little trouble overcoming a youthful Oldham side in a Greenhous Meadow clash they dominated. Winger Jon Taylor was the man to catch the eye, scoring twice in an action-packed display, while Connor Goldson and Tom Bradshaw were also on target.
Shrewsbury's defence were rarely threatened with goalkeeper Joe Anyon a virtual spectator.
Instead the focus fell on Town's attacking sextet as they carved out chances aplenty.
The deadlock was broken at the midway point of the first half when a left-wing corner from Elliot Turner bobbled around the box and was lashed home by Taylor from 10 yards.
That triggered three goals in 17 minutes with Goldson adding the second as he powered a bullet header past helpless Oldham goalkeeper Liam Jacob from another Turner corner.
Taylor killed the game as a contest five minutes before the break when he produced a jinking run before firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
From there it became a question of what Shrewsbury's margin of success would be as they dominated the encounter.
Taylor was denied his hat-trick by three fine saves from Jacob, and was only fractionally wide with two other angled drives, while Joe Jacobson curled two free-kicks fractionally the wrong side of the post.
Bradshaw, who had earlier gone close with two chances, added a fourth on the hour markwhen he produced a neat turn and finish after being picked out by lively midfielder Ryan Woods.
Shrewsbury: Anyon, Smith, Hazell, Goldson, Jacobson, Taylor (Carpenter 86), Woods, Wildig (Gwilliams 86), Turner, Bradshaw, Doble (Musslewhite 86).
Sub not used: Wearing.
James Garrison
