Martin Wild reports from Marston Road

A healthy contingent of Town fans made the short journey to Stafford and saw the side take to the field in a smart all-red kit, which was being worn for the first and only time, ahead of the new ProStar kit launch which will take place on Monday evening.

Paul Simpson gave first starts to summer signings Shane Sherriff and Richard Walker with record capture Grant Holt and Stephen Hindmarch amongst the substitutes.

The first goalscoring opportunity came from a set-piece. Steve Leslie won a corner and Dave Hibbert climbed well but saw his header cleared off the line with Kelvin Langmead's follow up effort dealt with in the same fashion by a Rangers defender.

Town were denied what looked to be a decent shout for a penalty on quarter of an hour when Nick Amos wrestled Hibbert to the floor as the striker shielded the ball with his back to goal, but referee Steve Rushton waved a fairly muted appeal away.

The pitch was in excellent condition but the blustery winds were a far cry from the weather conditions experienced by the squad during last week's trip to their Spanish training camp.

Walker almost marked his debut with a goal when David Hunt's mis-hit from the edge of the box fell perfectly for the forward. He got in a decent effort which tested Danny Alcock in the home goal with the keeper at full stretch to keep the ball out low to his left.

Shrews took the lead on 36 minutes. Alcock did well to beat Hibbert to a teasing left wing cross, but his punched clearance fell invitingly for Steve Leslie and he found the net from around 12 yards with his weaker right foot.

Chris Humphrey was replaced straight after the goal, having come off worse in a crunching tackle five minutes earlier.

Half-time: 0-1

Holt was introduced to the Town fans ten minutes after the break in a double substitution which saw Marc Pugh also enter the fray. Holt was involved almost immediately in the best move of the match involving a number of players which set up an opportunity for Dave Hunt but the midfielder was denied a goal as Alcock kept out his effort with his legs.

Holt made a far more telling contribution on the hour when his downward header from six-yards doubled Town's advantage. The former Nottingham Forest man owed a lot to the quality of the right wing cross though, which Darren Moss landed on the proverbial sixpence.

Alcock then made a terrific stop to keep out a Hunt free-kick but he was helpless from the resultant corner when Kevin McIntyre fired home an exocet into the top corner as Salop extended the margin to three with just 65 minutes on the clock.

Stafford - who were relegated from the Blue Square Premier at the end of last season - had made a decent fist of it up until the visitor's quick-fire double salvo. In truth though, Steve Bull's men would have been on the end of a much bigger defeat had it not been for the heroics of Alcock. Glyn Garner had been a virtual spectator throughout this game and Town can expect a much sterner test when Premier League West Bromwich Albion visit Oteley Road on Tuesday evening.

Full-time: 0-3

Stafford Rangers: Danny Alcock, Alex Gibson, Les Hines, Nick Amos, Stuart Pierpoint Francis, 46), John Loukes Ingram, 70), Carl Palmer, Dave McPherson (McMahon, 70), David McNiven (Jarrett, 70), Lindon Dovey, Bobby Wilson (captain)

Subs: Danny Allen (GK), Tom Ingram, Damian Jarrett, Paul McMahon, Andre Francis

Shrewsbury Town: Glyn Garner, Darren Moss, Neil Ashton, David Hunt, Kelvin Langmead (captain) , Shane Sherriff, Chris Humphreys (Hindmarch, 37), Kevin McIntyre, Dave Hibbert (Pugh, 55), Richard Walker (Symes, 65), Steve Leslie (Holt, 55)

Subs: Marc Pugh, Michael Symes, Ben Herd, Grant Holt, Stephen Hindmarch, Jasbir Singh (GK)

Referee: Mr. S. Rushton

Assistants: Mr. L. Sinclair, Mr. D. Kozmanovic