Match Report | Shrewsbury 4-0 FC Isle of Man

Shrewsbury ended their pre-season tour of the Isle of Man with a 4-0 victory over FC Isle of Man.

Gavin Cowan's side have spent three days on the island bonding and connecting with supporters.

But they have also worked hard and got some crucial minutes under their belt with two friendlies.

And their final fixture on the island saw them secure a comfortable win over the FC Isle of Man with strike Joe Gbode netting a brace.

Youngster Will Gray also found the back of the net twice.

Team news:

Boss Cowan once again opted to field a different team in each half to ensure he got minutes into the legs of as many players as possible.

Salop's first-half XI saw Will Brook start in goal with Ollie Hall, Sam Stubbs and Josh Ruffels making up the back three.

Arkell Jude-Boyd started at right wing-back with Kev Berkoe on the left.

Tom Sang and Isaac England were the midfield two with Isaac Fletcher more advanced in the number 10 role.

George Lloyd and Josh Davison were the front two.

Report:

Town made a bright start and almost took the lead inside 10 minutes. Davison threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Lloyd, whose low effort was brilliantly kept out by the home goalkeeper.

Salop threatened again from a corner soon after. Sang's delivery found the head of Ruffels, but the defender could only direct his powerful close-range header over the crossbar.

Another inviting delivery followed on 15 minutes when Berkoe whipped a dangerous cross into the box, with Lloyd rising highest but unable to keep his header down.

FC Isle of Man's best opportunity of the half arrived two minutes later. Cowin broke in behind the Town defence before seeing his cross-shot drift harmlessly wide of the far post.

Town were forced into an early change just before the half-hour mark after Lloyd was unable to continue following a knock, with Joe Gbode introduced in his place.

Cowan's men continued to control possession and almost found the breakthrough when Fletcher delivered an inviting cross that was met by Arkell Jude-Boyd, only for the goalkeeper to make a smart-stop.

At the other end, Kam Clark tested Brook from distance, but the Town stopper got down well to make a routine save.

Shrewsbury thought they had finally broken the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Sang found the back of the net following a low delivery from Berkoe.

Berkoe was onside but the flag had gone up against Davison, despite the fact the striker wasn't interfering with play.

Town second half half team saw Saw Proctor start in goal .

Isaac Lee, Will Boyle and Ruffels made up the back three with Jack Price and Will Gray in the middle of the park.

Jude-Boyd and Berkoe continued at wing-back with Jay Turner-Cooke in the 10 tole.

Davison and Gbode remained the front two.

Town found their ruthless streak after the break with Cowan's side creating a host of chances and scoring the goals to secure a comfortable win.

Salop opened the scoring just past the hour mark when Byron Pendleton, just moments after coming on, slipped Gbode through on goal.

The Luton loanee then showed his quality by calmly lifting the ball over the keeper and in.

Moments later and Salop had their second.

Again, substitutions played a role with Reuben Falding, Jevel Thompson-McKenzie and Jay Snook all introduced.

And within minutes, Thompson-McKenzie had seen a shot blocked with Gray reacting quickest to fire home.

In the 76th minute, Salop were 3-0 up - Gbode curling in a delicious strike from the edge of the box.

The striker then came a whisker away from his hat-trick when he entered the box before firing narrowly past the up right.