Shrewsbury Town 1 Hibernian 4 - Report and pictures

Micky Mellon's men warmed-up for MK Dons in League One next Saturday by conceding twice inside six minutes.

Jim O'Brien, who captained the side, brought Town back into it with a goal early in the second-half, but the Scottish Championship outfit killed the game off with two quickfire strikes on the hour.

Hibernian were looking to impress against the hardy few hundred supporters who made the trip south of the border.

Shrewsbury Town (4-2-3-1):

Leutwiler; Riley, Brown, McGivern, Lancashire; Ogogo, Deegan; Whalley (Jones, 53), Dodds, O'Brien; Leitch-Smith

Subs not used: Mangan, Burton, Black, Grogan, Sadler, El-Abd

Hibernian (3-5-2):

Laidlaw; McGregor, Stevenson (Crane, 71), Hanlon ©, Fontaine, Martin (Stanton, 71), McGinn (Foster, 67), Keatings (Carmichael, 73), Holt (Boyle, 67), Cummings (Shaw, 80), Harris

Subs not used: Virtanen

Attendance: 2,007

Referee: Bobby Madley

And they wasted no time in doing just that. James Keatings' left-sided free-kick delivery saw giant centre-half Liam Fontaine rise above the Town defence and power a header in off the underside of the crossbar after just three minutes.

The flying start continued and the visitors doubled their lead inside seven minutes. A familiar face notched this time in familiar fashion, as Grant Holt stooped low to send a quality header beyond Jayson Leutwiler from Scott Martin's delivery.

Town's attempted response was instant as Louis Dodds let fly with a thunderous 25-yard volley that was beaten away by Ross Laidlaw.

The home support were encouraged further as good work from skipper O'Brien saw him release Joe Riley but the full-back's cross was just inches too strong for AJ Leitch-Smith.

Town's early set piece woes continued, however, as Darren McGregor was allowed far too much space from another corner, with his header kept out by Leutwiler.

Holt and Jason Cummings' interplay was proving difficult for Town to handle and the former Salop man again fed the Hibs no.10 but Cummings could only snatch his first-time strike wide.

With Mellon barking instructions for his two full-backs, Joe Riley and Junior Brown, to push forward, Town created their best opportunity of the clash on 25 minutes. The opening came from a long, direct ball from Olly Lancashire that sent Dodds in the clear, but the former Port Vale man could only send his volley at Laidlaw.

As the Town chief urged his side to push forward and win the ball back, Hibs almost made it three as Salop were again at sixes and sevens from a set piece. Keatings' delivery from the left was a wicked one and Ryan McGivern lost Fontaine, but the defender was just unable to connect.

The hosts claimed for a spot-kick just on half-time but referee Bobby Madley was not interested when Dodds was eased off the ball after being put through by Shaun Whalley.

Town's improvement after the break saw them enjoy much more possession in Hibs' territory, but that was marred by a stunning booking for Whalley. The winger burst into the box on the far side and appeared to be clipped over, but referee Madley deliberated before pulling up Whalley and issuing the caution.

McGivern almost chalked his name into the Hibs scorers list after prodding a cross from Alex Harriers inches wide of Leutwiler's post.

Mellon's men got themselves a way back into the clash some 10 minutes after the break as crisp interplay between Deegan, substitute Ethan Jones and Junior Brown brought a free-kick 25 yards out to the left. O'Brien stood over the dead ball and his pacy effort, via a deflection on the wall, flew into the far corner beyond Laidlaw.

Town were showing much more urgency with Jones up alongside Leitch-Smith, but a sucker-punch was shortly to follow. Under no real pressure, Deegan slipped on the edge of his own box and was pickpocketed by Cummings who finished calmly.

Moments later the rampant visitors made it four when a McGinn ball over the top was chased down by Keatings who lifted a lob over Leutwiler that dropped in under the Town crossbar.

Amid a host of visiting substitutions, a fine reverse ball from O'Brien was played into the path of Leitch-Smith but the forward failed to generate the power needed to beat Laidlaw.