Head of academy coaching on FA Youth Cup win
Ian Dawes was delighted after Shrewsbury Town's Under-18s produced one of their best performances of the season to reach the FA Youth Cup Second Round Proper on Tuesday night.Four goals from striker Kaiman Anderson, two for Josh Ginnelly and a header from Niall Flint fired the young Shrews to a 7-0 win over Lincoln City in the First Round Proper at the Greenhous Meadow.
Back by 124 youth team supporters, Dawes' side were ruthless in front of goal, and the head of academy coaching was glad to see the best of Town's youngsters on the night.
"I thought the players did themselves justice on the night," said Dawes.
"Throughout the season they'be been performing really well without scoring the goals or keeping the clean sheets, but it all came together on the night.
"Credit to them because, man for man, they were excellent."
Anderson opened the scoring for Town in the tenth minute and never looked back, going on to bag four for himself on the night.
He also scored four the last time he played at the Greenhous Meadow, in a 13-0 win against Chasetown in the Midland Youth Cup.
And Dawes praised the striker's all-round performance on the night against Lincoln.
"I thought he was excellent. It wasn't just his goals, his movement and hold-up play was fantastic."
"It's not fair just to single him out, though, because right the way through the team we were excellent.
"Our purpose here for the youth team is to produce players for the first team. Hopefully this can be a bit of a springboard for them to get to the first team, train with them and go beyond that."
Town face a trip to Tranmere Rovers in the Second Round Proper of the competition after the SuperWhite Army came from behind to win 2-1 at Oldham Athletic in the First Round Proper on Tuesday night.
And Dawes expects the clash to be another good test for his young side, with Town facing Rovers in the Youth Alliance - North West league away on Saturday.
"Tranmere are always a good side so it will be good for our lads to go and play against them," said Dawes.
"We play them in the league next so it will give us a good idea of what to expect.
"Our players are capable of winning any tie if we perform to our capabilities, especially like we did against Lincoln."
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