Town ease to comfortable victory in the FA Youth Cup
Town: Jack Atkinson, Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts, George Hughes, Joel Bonner, Jacob Rammell, Ryan Barnett, John McAtee (Aaron Gilpin 83), Charley Higgs (George Hassall 67), Tyrone Ofori (Lifumpa Mwandwe 79), Matt JonesUnused Subs: Jake Kerins, Cameron Gregory,
Wolverhampton Casuals: Lewis Gregory, Oliver Friedl, Jake Walton, Kamal Best, Levi Andoh, Joe Daley (Nyhiem Howl 74), Sam Grainger, Harry Bell, Jamaal Thompson, Brad Sharman, Oshawe Bartley (Ted Owen 55)
Unused Subs: Isaal Mantago, Tom Edge, Craig Minton
Shrewsbury Town’s Under-18s produced a dominant display against Wolverhampton Casuals to reach the second round of the FA Youth Cup.
Goals from Ryan Sears (2), John McAtee and Matt Jones and George Hassall were enough to see off their plucky non-league opponents.
Team News:
Ian Dawes reverted to his first choice XI for the FA Youth Cup fixture after resting players at the weekend. Chris Gallagher continues to miss out through injury.
First Half:
Town got off to the perfect start when Ryan Sears scored from a Jacob Rammell corner on five minutes. Shrewsbury won the corner when Matt Jones fed Tyrone Ofori, whose shot was blocked behind. Rammell’s set-piece was met by Callum Roberts whose header was saved at point blank range by Lewis Gregory, but Sears was on hand to put away the rebound.
Town could have doubled their advantage 5 minutes later when Ryan Barnett got to the by-line and pulled back an inch perfect cross for John McAtee who headed against the bar.
However, McAtee did double Town’s advantage just a minute later when some one-touch build-up play from Town put McAtee in on goal and he slotted it past Gregory to make it 2-0.
Matt Jones then nearly made it three on the 20 minute mark, but his header was well blocked by Oliver Friedl. However, Jones wasted no time in getting himself on the score sheet, finishing a well worked move just a minute later to make it 3-0.
Wolverhampton finally began to settle down and played some nice passing football without creating any clear cut chances.
Town continued to look dangerous every time they went forward with the impressive Ryan Barnett putting in a handful of tantalizing crosses, but Tyrone Ofori and Charley Higgs couldn’t find the necessary finish.
And it was Wolverhampton Casuals who would score the final goal before half-time when Levi Andoh rose highest from a corner to head powerfully past Jack Atkinson in the Town goal.
Half-Time: 3-1
Second Half:
Town started brightly in the second half with Matt Jones blazing over from 12 yard after some good play from John McAtee.
With Wolverhampton beginning to tire, McAtee was being afforded more space in the number 10 position and he should have had his second of the afternoon after beating three men with a powerful run, but he decided to try and take on a fourth man when a shot was the better option.
Even when McAtee did decide to shoot a few minutes later, his shot was well saved by Gregory after another strong run from the former Burnley man.
Ian Dawes made his first change of the evening as Charley Higgs was replaced by George Hassall on 67 minutes as Town looked for fresh legs to try and break down an organised Wolves Casuals defence.
Although Town dominated for large periods of the second half they couldn’t find that final ball, something they have struggled with all season.
Even when Town did produce some cutting edge they found Gregory in inspired form. He made a wonderful double save to first deny George Hughes from distance and then George Hassall on the follow up.
Tyrone Ofori was then put into the referee’s book before being replaced by Lifumpa Mwandwe as Town searched for a fourth.
Gregory made another world class save to deny John McAtee from a free-kick, but he could do nothing to stop Ryan Sears adding his second of the game 10 minutes from time when Ryan Barnett put over a cross to the back post which George Hassall headed across the face and Sears was there to add the finishing touch.
Hassall then hit the post a minute later, before Mwandwe was denied when one-on-one with Gregory.
But, Hassall would find the net himself when he powerfully volleyed home from 6 yards after some more good work down the Town right to make it 5-1 on the 85th minute.
Town then saw out the final 5 minutes with ease as they reached the second round of the FA Youth Cup.
Full Time: 5-1