Shrewsbury Town 3 Barnet 0 - Report and pictures

[gallery] Shrewsbury Town progressed to the second round of the FA Cup as Paul Hurst made a 3-0 winning start to life at home, writes Lewis Cox at Greenhous Meadow.

Analysis

A most welcome clean sheet accompanied Town's three goals, courtesy of strikes from Mat Sadler, AJ Leitch Smith - his first in 18 games - and Jack Grimmer.

Hurst's Greenhous Meadow bow was a memorable one, and Salop made the next round securing their first win in 11 games and a first clean sheet since the second weekend of the season.

Shrewsbury's wretched run of just one clean sheet in 32 games was also put to bed.

Barnet made sure of using their trump card. Salop may have tactically moved the advertising hoardings to block the Bees' long throw - but Sam Muggleton's missile of a long throw was causing all means of havoc.

It probably wasn't the start Hurst was looking for at Greenhous Meadow. Salop were ponderous with the ball and didn't look capable of dealing with Barnet's sizeable threat.

Muggleton's launch, alongside dangerous corner deliveries from Curtis Weston were proving problematic and Town's old Achilles Hell of dealing with high balls into their box had returned.

Bira Dembele had three attempts before Salop got the goal they were searching for.

Jim O'Brien's 25 yard free-kick crashed against the crossbar and Mat Sadler was on hand to turn the rebound home under pressure.

The defender added to centre-half partner Adam El-Abd, who last week scored the first goal under Hurst's stewardship.

The pressure lifted but Barnet weren't finished. Dembele had another go from a long throw as Salop failed to get to grips with their physical presence.

But moments later the all-important second game. And if ever the cliche that 'confidence did wonders for centre-forwards' rang true - it was today.

AJ Leitch-Smith's glanced header from Toney's cross was inch-perfect. It was the striker's first goal in 18 games and it changed his afternoon. The former Vale man began running the channels, taking defenders on and letting fly at goal.

He could've had another two before the break.

The second period was more of a formality. Barnet came out, having made three changes at the break - a bizarre move from Martin Allen - and followed suit. Corners and throws continued to pelt the penalty area but little change was given this time.

Instead, Salop's lead grew and the strike was a fine one by Jack Grimmer. The popular full-back increased his stock with a smashing half volley that flew into the top corner from outside the box.

The outcome was a formality, Town wasted handsome breaks where they could've had more but the damage was done. A clean sheet was the only other key outcome for Salop's new chief.

Late strikes from Luke Gambin flew over, while Nelson found the post, but Salop were never truly troubled.

Key moments

4 - Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro almost announced his return early on, Salop didn't clear a corner but Frenchman couldn't connect with his volley.

23 - Shrewsbury's first shot after Ivan Toney takes a turn well and lets fly from 30 yards but Jamie Stephens claims comfortably.

25 - Salop can't sort themselves out from corners and Curtis Weston's delivery is met at a tight angle by Bira Dembele, but Jayson Leutwiler tips over.

25 - From the resulting corner Dembele has another free header, this time is flies inches wide. Mightily close to the opener.

28 - SALOP GOAL! - Louis Dodds is upended on the edge of the box and Jim O'Brien's free-kick cracks against the bar, but Mat Sadler is on hand to finish the rebound.

32 - Barnet search for an instant reply. Sam Muggleton's giant throw is clearly their main weapon and skipper Michael Nelson flicks it onto Dembele - who wins his third attacking header - and Leutwiler tips over.

33 - SALOP GOAL! - Town double their lead and AJ Leitch-Smith has his goal. His second of the campaign and first since the opening week of the season. Fine left-sided cross from Ivan Toney and Leitch-Smith sends a deft header into the corner.

39 - Leitch-Smith is flying now. Confidence aplenty, he looks twice the player! Dances through challenges and almost squeezes effort at near post. Toney then is worked in on goal but shoots at Stephens.

41 - Ogogo's cross is volleyed past the post by Leitch-Smith.

45 - Corners still seem an Achilles Heel. Muggleton's delivery is met by Nelson and his header loops onto the roof of the net.

54 - Barnet still working the high balls into the second period and only Bondz N'Gama glancing a header away from Salop old boy Akpa-Akpro prevented a goal.

58 - SALOP GOAL! - A stunner from Jack Grimmer! His first since joining on a third loan spell, and a real beauty! Receives a good ball from Gary Deegan and rockets a volley into the top corner from outside the box.

65 - Ogogo plays in Leitch-Smith and his fierce strike flies across goal.

74 - Barnet naively caught out. One Town clearance plays Toney and Leitch-Smith in on the halfway line. The forwards get caught in two minds to Chris Doig's and Hurst's bemusement.

83 - Late chance for Barnet's Luke Gambin but he blazes wastefully over from inside box.

85 - Michael Nelson's late header finds the post as Salop kept hold of their clean sheet.