U18s Narrowly Beaten In Penultimate Fixture
: Rochdale v Shrewsbury Town (Football League Youth Alliance - North West league, Tuesday 26 April, 1pm kick-off). NEXT FIXTURE
ASSISTANTS: Jamie James & Liam Cleary.
: Dan Bruce REFEREE
GOALS: Pratt (21), Morley (84).
UNUSED SUBS: Jordan Prescott, Kieran Price.
: Johny Diba (GK); Tyler Berry (Ralpheal Chea, 89), Callum Schorah (C), Kisimba Kisimba, Declan Evans, Jack Stewart (Daniel Adshead, 70), Brandon Smalley, Louis Coyne, Matthew Gilliam, Joe Piggott, Harry Pratt. ROCHDALE LINE-UP
BOOKED: Esien (44).
GOAL: Watts (29).
UNUSED SUBS: Cameron Gregory, George Hughes.
: Charlie Bannister (GK); Ryan Sears, Cameron Esien (Callum Grogan, 49), Jacob Rammell, Jake Kerins (Harri Lovett, 70), Jack Watts, Aaron Gilpin, Ryan Barnett, George Hassall (Chris Gallagher, 52), Charley Higgs, Ethan Jones (C). SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP
FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Rochdale
However, he was helpless to prevent Morley from slipping the ball in at his near post late on.
Then, he turned a deflected effort from Gilliam around his far post.
First, he tip over Brandon Smalley's fierce drive from outside the box spectacularly.
Town goalkeeper Bannister made two outstanding saves late on to deny Rochdale a winner.
Ethan Jones beat his man on the left and picked out Watts with a low cross, but the latter skied his shot in the box.
Rochdale got the second period underway but Town carried on attacking from where they left off.
HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Rochdale
Hassall could have got Town's second two minutes before half-time when the ball broke to him for a one-on-one, but his first-time shot was tipped around the far post.
Shrewsbury pushed for a second goal. Aaron Gilpin drove infield, picked out Charley Higgs with a pass who in turn then fed Hassall's whose shot was straight at Johny Diba.
However, Town equalised in the 29th minute when Watts' free-kick from 25 yards out was chipped to the far post, it missed the head of Ryan Sears who attacked the ball and went straight into the corner.
Rochdale nearly got in for a second when Pratt was played in on the right and Bannister had to come out and save with his legs.
And the visitors took the lead in the 21st minute when Matthew Gilliam got in one on one and put the ball on a plate across goal for Pratt to tap into the empy net from 12 yards.
However, Rochdale twice tested Shrews goalkeeper Charlie Bannister from long range with efforts from Jack Stewart.
Town got the game underway at a sunny Shrewsbury Sports Village and it was a fairly even start.
FIRST HALF
Cameron Esien, Jacob Rammell, Jake Kerins, Aaron Gilpin, Ryan Barnett, George Hassall and Charley Higgs were all handed starts.
Head of Academy coaching Ian Dawes made seven changes to the side which started the Football League Youth Alliance Cup final against Luton Town on Wednesday night.
TEAM NEWS
The young Shrews conclude their league season at Rochdale in the reverse fixture on Tuesday afternoon.
However, Dale substitute Aaron Morley stole a late winner for the visitors.
Dale took a 21st-minute lead through Harry Pratt's tap in, but a Jack Watts free-kick went straight into the far corner before half-time to equalise.
Shrewsbury Town's penultimate Football League Youth Alliance - North West league fixture of the season finished in a narrow defeat to Rochdale.