Shrewsbury Town

Town U18's draw at home to Fleetwood

Town: Atkinson; Sears, Bonner, Roberts; Jones (Hassall 68), Lovett (Rammell HT), Hughes, Gallagher, Gilpin; Barnett; Ofori
Unused subs: Gregory, Kerins, Mwandwe

Fleetwood: Crellin; Kerrigan, Sterling, Baines, Abubakar; Collins (Bridge 86), Shorrock, Dodd, Mooney; Garner; Finlayson
Unused subs: Turner, Unsworth, Holgate

Shrewsbury Town U18s counted the cost of some wasteful finishing after Fleetwood Town pegged them back to earn a point at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

Team News:

Ian Dawes made one change from the side that beat Tranmere last time out, with Harri Lovett coming into midfield for Jacob Rammell.

First Half:

Town caused the most problems in what was a cagey and sometimes scrappy early period, with Aaron Gilpin in particularly finding space out on the right side and troubling the Fleetwood back line with his pace and directness.

Chris Gallagher was nearly the first to benefit from the bright start of his teammate, but he could only fire his shot just wide after a good delivery into the area.

Fleetwood had limited opportunities in early stages but they worked their way into the game as the half went on, with first Gerard Garner causing problems with a vicious set piece delivery, before a ricochet fell for Conor Finlayson, who bent his angled effort past the post.

Finlayson got himself in behind just minutes later but his effort was poor and was easily collected by Jack Atkinson in the Shrewsbury goal.

Atkinson had to be alert just before half time as this time an error let Fleetwood in, and the keeper continued to pick up where he left off last week with another impressive stop to keep his side level going into the break.

Half Time: 0-0 

Second Half:

Town came out looking like a different side in the second half, with urgency and incisiveness creating chance after chance, and they got their rewards when Gilpin’s cross was handled by Solomon Abubakar in the area.

Gallagher stepped up and sent Billy Crellin the wrong way to put Town into the lead.

Chances from Tyrone Ofori and Ryan Barnett followed as the home side continued to dominate in the first 10 minutes after half time.

But Town were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as Fleetwood came back and equalised with 25 minutes to play, with a low side footed effort from Alex Dodd finding the bottom corner.

Ian Dawes brought on George Hassall to partner Tyrone Ofori for the final 2
0 minutes and the change almost paid off instantly as the impressive Gilpin found the substitute in the area but the effort went wide.

Town’s commitment to attack looked like it could hurt them as Fleetwood broke with regularity with the home side throwing men up the pitch, but going into the last 5 minutes both sides were still looking for a winner.

Fleetwood were lucky to finish the game with 11 men after Mooney went in high on Atkinson as the keeper came out decisively to collect a through ball, but the wide player was only booked.

The away side came closest to nicking a winner in the final minutes but Garner could only find the side netting as the ball was played across the face of goal, and both sides has to settle for a point.

Full Time: 1-1