Jon Taylor fired the Shrews in front in the sixth minute after a mistake by Lincoln winger Gavin McCallum. McCallum made up for his error a minute later when he supplied a perfect cross for Ashley Grimes to head home his ninth goal of the season.
But the visitors restored their lead when Julian Kelly deflected a dangerous cross into his own net on 12 minutes, and Lionel Ainsworth quickly killed the game off with a 13-minute hat-trick.
The first came on 22 minutes after a dreadful mistake by on-loan Arsenal full-back Gavin Hoyte, and was followed a minute later by a 12-yard strike after Lincoln keeper Trevor Carson failed to punch clear.
Ainsworth finished off his treble with a wonderful solo effort on 35 minutes.
Only another good save with his feet from Carson denied Ainsworth a fourth after the break, but Shrewsbury saw the win out easily.
Lincoln City 1-5 Shrewsbury: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
