Town U18s through to the third round
Town: Jack Atkinson, Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts, George Hughes, Joel Bonner, Jacob Rammell, Ryan Barnett, Chris Gallagher (George Hassall 83), Tyrone Ofori (Charley Higgs 76), John McAtee, Mathew JonesUnused Subs: Jake Kerins, Aaron Gilpin, Lifumpa Mwandwe,
Rochdale: Bradley Wade, Raphael Chea (Jack Stewart 46), Keith Kearney, Aaron Morley, Isaac Ward, Andrew Hollins, Matthew Gillam, Jack Lenehan ©, Joseph Piggott, Jordan Prescott, Neil Kengni Kuemo
Unused Subs: Elliott Murray, Louis White, Nathaniel Appiah, Florent Hoti
Referee: Mr P Tomes
Assistant Referees: Mr M Tyers, Mr L Lazenby
Shrewsbury Town’s under-18s continue their FA Youth Cup journey thanks to a 2-1 win over Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena. A first half goal from Tyrone Ofori and a late winner from Charley Higgs came either side of Jordan Prescott's strike and helped Town into the third round.
Team News:
Ian Dawes makes two changes from the team which lost 3-0 to Preston North End last time out. Chris Gallagher returns from the injury he sustained whilst on Northern Ireland Under-19 duty, replacing Charley Higgs and Ryan Barnett comes in for Aaron Gilpin on the right hand side.
First Half:
Rochdale started the brighter and Matthew Gillam, who has been involved in the Dale first team this season, had a cross well cut out early on.
The opening 20 minutes was a relatively quiet affair, as Town began to work the ball out of the back, but both sides were restricted to set-pieces which were easily defended.
It was on 23 minutes when Town come to life when Matt Jones found space on the left hand side and his shot was well saved by Rochdale goalkeeper Bradley Wade.
Just a minute later and Wade was again called into action as Chris Gallagher’s shot was turned behind for a corner. The resulting corner found the head of Jones, but Wade was again able to keep it out.
Rochdale then had a chance at the other end when Aaron Morley shot from distance, it took a deflection, but thankfully for Jack Atkinson it went straight into his arms.
Town continued to dominate their hosts, with Tyrone Ofori being the next to be denied by Wade after he had found himself space in behind the Rochdale defence.
Town then had a corner on 35 minutes after some good work from Ryan Barnett, but Rochdale broke quickly, winning a corner for themselves, which saw Joseph Piggott send a diving header over the bar.
Town eventually got the goal that their opening half display deserved when on 43 minutes Tyrone Ofori headed home to put Shrewsbury 1-0 up at the break.
Half Time: 0-1
Rochdale, who had been completely dominated in the first half, made a substitution at the interval with Jack Stewart replacing Raphael Chea.
The substitution seemed to help Dale, who came out much more energized in the second half, with an Aaron Morley free-kick being headed away well at Town’s near post, whilst Keith Kearney’s shot went just over the bar.
Town continued to cause problems and Bradley Wade was forced to tip a John McAtee effort onto the bar.
Rochdale certainly looked the brighter side in the second half as Matthew Gilliam went close and they found the equaliser on 67 minutes when Jordan Prescott shot low and hard across Jack Atkinson in the Town goal as the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
Ian Dawes looked for a response from his side and brought on Charley Higgs in place of Tyrone Ofori.
But, it was Rochdale who still looked the more dangerous side as Matthew Gillam began to get more involved, first feeding Neil Kengni Kuemo, whose cross flashed across the face, and then having a shot that went just over the bar.
With just over 5 minutes to go Ian Dawes made the brave decision of putting on an extra striker as replaced Chris Gallagher with George Hassall and it worked straight away as Charley Higgs headed home just a minute later to put Town back in front.
It would go onto be the winning goal as Town held out for a much deserved win and a place in the third round of the competition.
Full Time: 1-2