A hat-trick from Callum Paterson saw MK Dons beat Shrewsbury.

The striker grabbed all three of his goals in the first half with Luke Offord and Dan Crowley also on target for the hosts.

Town grabbed a consolation through a sensational Tom Sang strike.

Sam Clucas, Will Boyle and Ismeal Kabia also went close.

But Paterson's ruthlessness in front of goal proved to the difference - with the striker burying a penalty and grabbing two more with excellent finishes.

Team news:

Boss Appleton kept faith with the team that secured victory over Harrogate when naming his starting line-up.

In a 4-4-2 formation, Will Brook continued in goal with Nick Freeman, Luca Hoole, Will Boyle and Sam Clucas making up the back four.

In midfield, Josh Ruffles was joined by Taylor Perry in the middle of the park with Iwan Morgan on the left flank and Ismeal Kabia on the right.

John Marquis and Trey Ogunsuyi were the front two.

MK Dons lined up in a 3-5-2 system with Aaron Collins and Callum Paterson the front two.

Report: 

In what proved to be a nightmare opening 11 minutes, the hosts managed to score not once but twice to put themselves in a commanding position.

The goal that broke the deadlock was particularly harsh on Town who had looked dangerous themsevlves when Morgan burst into the box before seeing a shot blocked.

But the hosts then produced a swift a counter that saw the ball pumped forward for Paterson who then fired in brilliantly from 18 yards.

Three minutes later the Dons - and Paterson - had a second.

Hoole was judged to have pushed Alex Gilbey in the box.

And Paterson converted the resultant spot-kick for his second goal in the space of just three minutes.

Falling two goals down against the promotion favourites was a huge blow.

Yet Town rallied well - with Ruffels and Morgan in particular leading the charge as Salop worked to get back into the game.

The duo combined well before Kabia sent in a dangerous cross that was cleared.

Clucas then whipped in a dangerous free-kick that Boyle headed narrowly wide.

In the 34th minute though Paterson virtually put the game to bed when collected the ball in the box before finding the top corner for his hat-trick.

Town continued the try a find a way back - with Clucas stinging the palms of Craig MacGillivray with a fierce drive from 20 yards.

Salop had more chances after the interval.

Kabia forced MacGillivray into another fine stop with a powerful effort from a tight angle.

Town made a triple change in the 72nd minute with Temple Ojinnaka coming on for his debut. Tom Sang and George Lloyd also entered the fray.

In the closing stages, though the hosts got a fourth when Offord stabbed in from close range after Collins had hit the post.

Town did get a consolation shorly after - Sang netting with a sensational strike from 20 yards.

But late on Crowley grabbed a fifth for Paul Warne's side as they strengthened their push for automatic promotion.

Teams:

MK Dons: MacGillivray, Jones (Lemonheigh-Evans 68), Kelly (Crowley 82), Gilbey (Matete 68), Collins, Paterson (Hogan 77), Offord, Nemane (Mellish 46), Nelson, Wiles, Sanders.

Subs not used: Trueman, Ekpiteta.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Hoole, Boyle, Clucas, Perry (Ojinnaka 72), Freeman, Morgan (Sang 72)  Kabia, Ogunsuyi (Lloyd 72), Ruffels, Marquis.

Subs not used: Cox, Anderson, Lee, England.

Attendance: 7,336 (485 away).