Town lose out to Peterborough United five goals to one.

Shrewsbury Town were dealt a difficult afternoon in Peterborough with a red card and five goals conceded.

Siriki Dembele was the star man for his team as he helped the Posh secure three points with his hat-trick – contributing to a thorough 5-1 win.

Despite the eventual loss, the Shrews started brightly and were competing well with the home side. Great delivery from Charlie Daniels caused the home side all kinds of issues during the early stages of the game. This lead to a chance for Town defender, Ethan Ebanks-Landell. As the ball bounced around in the box, Ebanks-Landell managed to strike the ball towards goal but saw his effort cleared off the line.

In a near-identical situation, Aaron Pierre also saw a close-range effort at goal well blocked. The defender latched onto a bouncing ball in the box but was unable to guide the ball around the defender and into the net.

Against the run of play, the home side were awarded a penalty due to a Harry Burgoyne foul in the 16^th minute. T keeper miss-timed his run and crashed into the on-coming forward.  A confident Jonson Clarke-Harris stepped up and tucked home into Burgoyne’s left-hand corner to give his team the lead and his sixth goal of the season.

Just minutes later, Town got the goal the performance deserved. Marc Pugh struck perfect delivery towards Josh Daniels and the winger managed to calmly head into the opposite side of the net to bring the score level.

However, the score didn't last for long. The home side pulled ahead through Siriki Dembele later in the half. The forward ran past Ro-Shaun Williams with a mazing run into the box and slotted into the bottom corner past the Salop keeper.

Josh Vela was shown a straight red card for a challenge in the middle of the pitch shortly before half-time. 

The second-half began with both teams looking to get on the front foot. Despite being down to 10-men, the Shrews were trying to force themselves back into the game with determined forward play.

Disappointingly for Town, Dembele’s positive performance continued and the forward netted again in the 69^th minute. A cute shot towards the corner of the net hit the inside of the post and went in to make the score 3-1.

Town’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Dembele clinched his hat-trick. The forward dribbled around the on-coming keeper and calmly slotted home for his team.

Jack Taylor made it five with a brilliant strike from outside the box with three minutes to go.

The game came to an end with the home side securing a 5-1 win over 10-men Town.

The teams:

Posh: Christy Pym, Dan Butler, Mark Beevers, Frankie Kent, Jack Taylor, Jonson Clarke-Harris (Mo Eisa, 74), Siriki Dembele, Reece Brown (Louis Reed, 53), Sammie Szmodics, Joe Ward, Niall mason

Subs: Daniel Gyollai, Mo Eisa, Ryan Broom, Louis Reed, Frazer Blake-Tracey, Idris

Kanu, Ethan Hamilton.

Town: Harry Burgoyne, Ro-Shaun Williams, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Pierre, Charlie Daniels, Scott High, Ollie Norburn, Josh Vela, Josh Daniels, Daniel Udoh (Shilow Tracey, 80), Marc Pugh (Jason Cummings, 45).

Subs: Cam Gregory, Marlon Fossey, Brad Walker, Jan Zamburek, Shilow Tracey, Jason Cummings, Ryan Barnett.

Referee: J. Oldham

Assistants: R. Woodward & D. Gratton

Fourth official: T. Bramall

Bookings:

Harry Burgoyne for a foul on Siriki Dembele in the 16^th minute.

Josh Vela straight red card for a challenge in the middle of the pitch shortly before half-time.

Reece Brown yellow for kicking the ball away after a foul in the 50^th minute.

Ollie Norburn was shown yellow for trying to prevent a counter-attack in the 58^th minute.

Ethan Ebanks-Landell was shown a yellow card for a foul on Dembele late on in the game.