Shrewsbury Town

Town take on Wigan in the EFL Youth Alliance

Town: Jack Atkinson, Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts, George Hughes, Joel Bonner (Jake Kerins 85), Jacob Rammall, Aaron Gilpin, Ryan Barnett, George 
Hassall, Tryone Ofori (Fumpa Mwandawe 62), Matt Jones
Unused Subs: Luke Burton, Cameron Esien, Harri Lovett

Wigan: Theo Roberts, Anthony Plant, Tylor Golden, Tom Hilton, Charlie Forecast, Matty Taylor, Joe Downey, Will McGuthie, Mwiya Malumo, Shane Donaghey, 
Nathan Randell
Subs: Jordan Perrin, Divin Baniname, Scott Smith, Mitchell Culshaw, Josh Beaumont

Shrewsbury Town's U18s dominate at the Shrewsbury Sports Village against Wigan, but the visitors take all three points thanks to an early goal.

Team News:

It's same again for Ian Dawes as Town play their usual 3-5-2 formation. John McAtee remains injured, but was doing some work with the squad before the game. Luke Burton comes onto the bench for Cameron Gregory.

First Half:

Town started brightly in the opening 10 minutes. George Hassall was twice denied Theo Roberts in the Wigan goal before Town hit the bar with a rasping effort from Ryan Barnett.

But, it was the visitors who would take the lead on 14 minutes when some neat interplay between Nathan Randell and Mwiya Malumo saw the later break clear of the Town defence. Joel Bonner looked to have recovered, but Malumo picked out a perfectly weighted cross which Randell met sweetly to fire past Jack Atkinson from 15 yards.

After a frantic opening 15 minutes Town began to control the possession, with Wigan remaining a definite threat on the break.

Callum Roberts almost equalised 10 minutes later when his powerful back post header was well saved by Roberts after Jacob Rammell's free-kick.

But, Wigan again broke quickly and Town had Jack Atkinson to thank as he made a brilliant one on one stop to deny Malumo.

Whilst Wigan looked dangerous going forward, Town always looked capable of creating chances against a nervy Wigan backline.

Ryan Sears went close from another Town set piece and Ryan Barnett was gifted a perfect opportunity to level the scores when the Wigan backline gave the ball straight to the midfielder, but his shot was straight at Roberts.

In reality Town ought to have been at least level at the break after a dominant opening 45 minutes. The impressive Jacob Rammell shooting just wide after some good work from Aaron Gilpin and Tyrone Ofori down the right hand side.

HT: 0-1

Town continued to dominate at the start of the second half and Tyrone Ofori could have scored with three minutes of the interval. George Hughes played a perfectly weighted throughball, but Ofori got his connection all wrong and it went over the bar.

Ofori then went close 10 minutes later when Matt Jones powered down the left, before putting across a perfect cross, but Ofori couldn't get his head over the ball and it went well over the bar.

Town then had the ball in the net, but George Hassall's effort was ruled out for offside.

With Town chasing the game, Ian Dawes made the first change of the game as under-16 striker Fumpa Mwandawe replaced Tyrone Ofori.

George Hassall continued to cause problems for the Wigan back four, but the striker couldn't find the goal his play deserved.

Town couldn't have come closer with 10 minutes to play as Ryan Barnett found the head of Fumpa Mwandawe with a cross, but Mwandawe could only hit the bar from 6 yards.

Wigan failed to test Jack Atkinson in the second half and continued to commit men forward with Hassall again having a header saved.

The game began to boil over and Wigan had Will McGuthie sent off after he lashed out at Ryan Barnett.

In an action packed game the referee signalled that there would be 8 minutes added time, but despite putting Ryan Sears upfront, Town failed to create a goal scoring opportunity in the last few minutes.

FT: 0-1