U18s: Mansfield Town 0-2 Shrewsbury Town
: Wigan Athletic v Shrewsbury Town (Football League Youth Alliance - North West league, Saturday 17 October, 11am kick-off). NEXT FIXTURE
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UNUSED SUBS: Luke Bacon, Henry Brittijn, Morgan Ratcliffe.
: Sam Wilson (GK); Charlie Shaw (Surafel Behailu, 81), Teddy Bloor, Drew Gibson, Kieran Harrison, Louis Danquah, Cain Smith, Cameron Healey, Tyler Blake, Alistair Smith (Tom Marriott, 69), Zayn Hakeem. MANSFIELD TOWN LINE-UP
GOALS: Ethan Jones (17, 45+).
UNUSED SUBS: Josh Agbozo, Joe Kenton.
: Leon Reece (GK); Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts, George Hughes, Joel Bonner, Chris Gallagher, Jack Butts, John McAtee (Charley Higgs, 80), Jordan Wilson (Joel Carta, 90+2), Ethan Jones (c), Tom King (Nathan Mills, 86). SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP
FULL-TIME: Mansfield Town 0-2 Shrewsbury Town
In the final minute, Wilson thwarted Jones at the expense of a corner, as he almost added his third goal. And right at the death Healey, Drew Gibson and Wilson did well to prevent a further goal in a frantic finish to the game.
Cain Smith, Marriott and Hakeem passed their way past three challenges, but Shrewsbury closed ranks and shut them out again.
Harrison swung the ball into the goal area and Cameron Healey climbed above everyone in the crowded goalmouth to nod the ball towards the goal, but Reece held onto it.
From the goal kick, the visitors charged forward and Sam Wilson was a bit fortunate to see his point blank save from John McAtee rebound back into his arms off the upright.
Stags substitute Tom Marriott, played a weighted pass into the path of Hakeem but with his marker closing in on him, the Mansfield striker had to rush his effort and put the ball wide.
Tyler Blake was scrapping for every ball down the right flank with Callum Roberts, as the two of them indulged in a personal duel, but Roberts' defensive sidekicks had his back covered as Hakeem roamed dangerously in their midst.
Time was running out fast for Mansfield now.
Cain Smith was fouled, 40 yards from the visitors goal, but when Louis Danquah nudged a short free kick to Cain, he launched a speculative long shot well over the bar.
Bloor's flag kick was intercepted and Shrewsbury broke forward through their danger man Jones yet again, but when Chris Gallagher teed him up for his hat trick, the Shrews goalscorer squandered his chance to claim a hat trick.
Mansfield attacked down the left flank and Harrison's long throw into the mix was cleared for a corner.
Back came Shrewsbury through Tom King, he crossed to Jones who unselfishly played a sideways pass to John McAtee who blazed his shot past the right hand post.
Shaw and Blake combined outside the visitors area and set up a chance for Alistair Smith, but he shot wide of the target.
A long range pass from Callum Roberts picked out George Hughes whose first time volley was saved by Wilson.
Alistair Smith shielded the loose ball and passed it sideways to Bloor who had advanced into the area, but Callum Roberts bravely threw himself of the Stags' full back's shot and the ball cannoned off his chest.
The home side mounted the first attack of the second half and Reece was forced into punching the ball away as it swerved in the air and threatened to dip below his crossbar, from a Bloor corner kick.
HALF-TIME: Mansfield Town 0-2 Shrewsbury Town
In stoppage time, the Shrews countered down the right flank and a sweeping cross from Jordan Wilson was swept past Wilson from eight yards out by Jones, who bagged his second goal on the stroke of half time.
The Stags, looking to draw level before the break, forced two more corners in quick succession, but when Bloor found Shaw once more, Reece was on hand again to pull off a great save.
Bloor swung in the corner which was only cleared as far as Charlie Shaw, but the visitors defence closed ranks again and charged down his shot on goal.
Alistair Smith was looking lively, his ten yard strike was blocked by the ever determined visitors defence and fell invitingly for Teddy Bloor, who's stinging shot was tipped around the post by the impressive Reece.
Zayn Hakeem flicked the ball on to his his strike partner, but Tyler Blake had the ball nicked off his boot as he took aim.
But the Stags absorbed a spell of pressure and upped the ante themselves.
The Shrews put Mansfield on the back front for an uncomfortable few minutes and it became apparent that Jones wasn't content to settle for just a solitary goal today.
A long pass upfield found Ethan Jones, who held up the ball and opted to plant it just inside the left hand post as the Stags defence were caught in two minds by the Shrews cavalry who had turned up in support of their prolific striker... and with 17 minutes on the clock, the visitors were in front.
A succession of flag kicks for the Stags came to nothing as Shrewsbury showed that they were a very well drilled a efficient defensive unit who operated like a well oiled machine.
Blake took possession of the ball in the visitors box and in spite of the very close attentions of his marker slipped a sideways pass to Alistair Smith, who first time shot was palmed away by Reece at the expense of a corner.
Play switched quickly again and within moments Ethan Jones was bearing down on Sam Wilson, but he miscued his shot and presented the Stags stopper with an easy save.
Alistair Smith found a slight chink in the visitors armour and threaded a pass into the path of Tyler Blake, but the Shrews keeper Leon Reece moved quickly from his line to snuff out the danger.
But Shrewsbury regrouped quickly and within moments they had forced a corner at the other end.
The Stags almost took the lead in the third minute, when a long range free kick from Kieran Harrison out on the left flank dipped sharply and dropped just over the visitors crossbar.
The Shrews arrived at Kirklington Road on the back of five straight wins in the Football League Youth Alliance - North West league.
FIRST HALF
Joel Bonner replaced Callum Grogan in defence, meaning Ethan Jones took the captain's armband, while John McAtee came in for Charley Higgs.
Head of Academy coaching Ian Dawes made two changes to the side which won at Port Vale in the league a week before.
TEAM NEWS
The second-year scholar struck twice in the first half at Rainworth Miners Welfare Club to give the young Shrews their sixth straight victory.
A brace from Ethan Jones fired Shrewsbury Town past Mansfield Town and into the third round of the Football League Youth Alliance Cup on Saturday.