A brace from Anthony Scully and a Tom Sang strike ensured Shrewsbury clinched a place in the second round of the FA Cup with a professional win at South Shields.

The hosts entered the game sitting second in the National League North table and having lost just once this season.

And in front of a sell-out home crowd, Ian Watson's side would have hoped they could create some FA Cup magic.

Town, though, ensured they were the team in Monday's draw with a thoroughly professional and composed display.

Scully opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Mal Benning had been fouled. He then grabbed his second after converting a John Marquis cross.

And Sang made sure Town were in the ascendancy at the break with an excellent finish after Scully had been denied his hat-trick.

Luke Woolston grabbed a consolation for South Shields with an excellent finish from 20 yards.

But it was Town's day - with Michael Appleton's men fully deserving their place in the next round. 

Team news:

Boss Appleton opted for a 3-4-2-1 system in the North East with Will Brook continuing in goal.

Tom Anderson, fresh from recovering from a calf injury, came back into the side at centre-back alongside Will Boyle and Sam Stubbs.

Ismeal Kabia and Sam Clucas continued at wing-back with Sang and Josh Ruffels the midfield two.

Scully and Tommy McDermott operated in more advanced roles with Marquis the central striker.

South Shields lined up in a 3-4-3 system with Caden Kelly and Cedwyn Scott out wide and Paul Blackett through the middle.

Report:

With a sell-out crowd behind them, it was South Shields who created the first chance of the game in just the third minute.

A wonderful ball from Blackett slipped Scott through on goal - with the wideman then sliding an effort across goal but wide.

Town were forced into a change shortly after with Benning replacing Clucas who picked up a slight knock.

Having stemmed some early pressure from the hosts, Town began to find their rhythm with Kabia getting some joy down the right.

First, the wing-back charged down the right before sending in a cross from which McDermott saw a shot blocked.

The Arsenal loanee then did well to win a corner, from which Town were ultimately awarded a penalty.

That spot-kick came after Kelly shoved Benning to the floor, leaving referee Thomas Parsons with no option.

And from 12 yards Scully made no mistake -with the forward hitting an effort that Jasper Sheik got a hand to but couldn't keep out.

Just past the half-hour mark, Salop - and Scully - had a second.

Again Kabia was involved with the wing-back playing a pass that got Marquis to the byline. And he delivered a cross which Scully stabbed home.

Appleton's men went on to make it three before the break.

Kabia and McDermott combined well in the middle of the park to work the ball to Scully inside the box.

He then cut away from his marker before seeing an effort blocked by a defender.

And it was Sang who reacted quickest, with the midfielder pouncing on the loose ball before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net.

Town introduced Perry for Sang at the break.

Then, on the hour, Scully and Marquis made way for Luca Hoole and George Lloyd in a move that saw Kabia push further forward.

In the 65th minute, only an excellent save from Sheik prevented Town from getting a fourth.

McDermott produced a wonderful strike inside the area that looked destined to nestle into the bottom corner.

But at full-stretch, the South Shields keeper did really well to get down and parry the ball away.

Sixty seconds later and the hosts had pulled one back - with Middlesbrough loanee Woolston curling in a brilliant strike from 20 yards.

Town responded with Benning firing inches wide from just inside the box.

The excellent Kabia then went through one-on-one, only to be denied by the keeper.

This, though, was Town's day with Appleton's men thoroughly deserving their win.

Teams:

South Shields: Sheik, Tinkler, Bainbridge, Sykes, Morse, Blackett (Carson 46), Jenkins (Savage 90), Scott, Kelly (Ward 60), Woolston (Alcock 80), Dodds (McGurk 60).

Subs not used: Mann, McGowan.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Anderson, Boyle, Stubbs, Kabia, Ruffels (Biggins 80), Sang (Perry 46), Clucas (Benning 13), McDermott, Scully (Hoole 60), Marquis (Lloyd 60).

Subs not used: Harrison, Aneke, England, Gray.

Attendance: 3570