Under-18s exit the FA Youth Cup
Shrewsbury Town exited the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night despite taking the lead against Tranmere Rovers in the Second Round game at Prenton Park.Striker Kaiman Anderson headed Town in front in the 26th minute from midfielder Niall Flint's free-kick.
But Tomali Omotola equalised in first-half added time for the hosts and Sam Ilesanmi fired Rovers in front within two minutes of the start of the second half.
Midfielder Daren Askew then hit a stunning effort to put Tranmere further in front, and they held on to their lead to reach the Third Round
TEAM NEWS
Head of academy coaching Ian Dawes made four changes to the side which played in the Under-18s' last game - a Youth Alliance North West league fixture away at Tranmere - with Alex Ashton, Ryan Hickman, Callum Grogan and Joe Kenton all coming in for the injured Harry Lewis, Jack Butts, Ryan Sears and Jordan Wilson.
FIRST HALF
Town made the better start and were close to taking a third-minute lead when Josh Ginnelly whipped in a corner from the left and Niall Flint saw his header towards goal cleared off the line by a defender.
The young Shrews created enough chances to take the lead inside the opening ten minutes. Flint tried his luck from long range but Tranmere goalkeeper Luke Pilling got across his goal to hold.
Then, in the seventh minute, Town had two great chances to open the scoring.
First, Kaiman Anderson was played in on goal and looked to roll the ball towards the bottom left corner, but a defender got across to clear.
However, the ball came back to Anderson on the right byline and he crossed high for Ginnelly, who was on the edge of the six-yard box, but there was just too much pace on the cross and the latter headed over an empty goal.
At the other end, in the 23rd minute, Omotola robbed Alex Fletcher in midfield and bore down on the Town goal but curled his effort low and wide of the right post.
And Town took the lead three minutes later from a free-kick, with Flint curling the set-piece towards the far post where Anderson rose highest and headed into an empty goal after the goalkeeper had come out.
A Tranmere defender was close to clearing the effort off the goal line, but it did cross the line and Town were ahead.
The young Shrews looked as though they would hold onto their lead going into the break, but Omotola, who scored in the last fixture between the two sides, found an equaliser for the hosts as he rolled the ball beyond Town goalkeeper Alex Ashton.
The goal came in the first minute of added time at the end of the first half, meaning the two teams went in level at the break.
HALF-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
Within two minutes of the restart, Town fell behind as Sam Ilesanmi worked his way into the penalty area for Rovers before sliding the ball into the bottom right corner past Ashton.
There was then little the young Shrews could do as Tranmere moved 3-1 in front when Askew drove through the middle of the park before unleashing a high, dipping strike over Ashton from over 25 yards out.
Town did have chances to pull at least one back in the remainder of the second half.
Midfielder Joe Kenton saw a fierce strike from the edge of the box parried before Anderson struggled to connect with the rebound.
Substitute George Hassall was also presented with a free header from Kenton's cross on the right but was unable to make any contact with the ball.
In the end, there was no way back for the young Shrews as they exited the competition at the Second Round stage.
Tranmere will now face either Mansfield Town or Northampton Town away in the Third Round of the competition.
FULL-TIME: Tranmere Rovers 3-1 Shrewsbury Town
SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP: Alex Ashton (GK); Ryan Hickman, Ben Burton, Callum Grogan, Jeff Watkins (c), Alex Fletcher (Joel Carta, 84'), Joe Kenton, Nial Flint (Jordan Wilson, 70), Kaiman Anderson, Josh Ginnelly, Tom King (George Hassall, 60').
UNUSED SUBS: Shaun Rowley (GK), Callum Roberts.
BOOKED: Watkins, Burton, Grogan.
TRANMERE ROVERS LINE-UP: Luke Pilling (GK); Mitch Duggan, Jay Hunter, Kevin Cringle, Evan Gumbs (c), Liam Smith, Lewis Moynes, Ben Jago, Tolani Omotola (Udoyen Akpan, 87'), Sam Ilesanmi (Jake Hulley, 76), Daren Askew.
SUBS: Patrik Rutter (GK), Tom Williams, Callum Lucy.
REFEREE: Nick Greenhalgh.
Referee's Assistants: Robert Darfi & Nigel Anderson
Fourth Official: Richie Hughes.
NEXT FIXTURE: Blackpool v Shrewsbury Town (Football League Youth Alliance - North West league, Saturday 22 November, Squires Gate Training Ground, 11am kick-off).
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