Wildig gives Town the lead but Burton hit back in second half
Shrewsbury Town reserves were unable to build on a half time lead given them by Aaron Wildig as they lost 2-1 at home to Burton Albion in the Central League this afternoon.
A Michael Hector own goal gifted the Brewers an equaliser before Matt Paterson grabbed the winner 16 minutes from time at a chilly Greenhous Meadow.
Shrewsbury fielded a mixture of youth and experience for clash with left back Rob Purdie the senior figure in the side while there were also chances for Hector, Connor Goldson, Wildig, Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Doble to try and impress ahead of Saturday's FA Cup first round clash at Hereford United.
Burton included a number of experienced first teamers headed by Irishman John McGrath, who had a loan spell at the Gay Meadow when Jimmy Quinn was Shrewsbury manager in 2004, while defender Andrew Corbett, winger Chris Palmer and striker Justin Richards also boast plenty of first team experience for the Brewers.
Town started brightly with young right winger Jack Gwilliams causing Burton plenty of problems with several exciting raids.
One of them saw the winger find Tom Bradshaw but the striker was crowded out before he could get a shot away.
Bradshaw then powered in a well struck effort after a neat move down the left but Burton goalkeeper Dean Lyness pulled off a sharp stop, the first save made by either keeper in the 17th minute.
Town made the breakthrough in the 24th minute. Ryan Doble forced a corner and Gwilliams picked out Wildig at the near post whose header found its way past Lyness.
Burton responded brightly and missed two good chances on the half-hour. Young goalkeeper Connor Wearing needed to be alert to divert a close range effort from Matt Paterson over the bar.
The resulting corner fell kindly for Richards but the ex-Port Vale striker was unable to hit the target with a far post header.
Wildig then came close to doubling the advantage at the other end but his curling 20 yard free kick was just too high as it cleared the bar.
It became more end to end the closer it got to half time and Richards teed up Paterson only for his strike partner to blast narrowly wide from the edge of the box as Wildig's goal continued to divide the teams at the break.
Burton were gifted an equaliser 10 minutes into the second half when Reading loanee Hector, under no real pressure, chipped his shell-shocked goalkeeper Wearing from the right side of the penalty area.
Shrewsbury were quickly back on the front foot and a cross-cum-shot from Gwilliams was turned over the bar by keeper Lyness.
Next it was the turn of Town keeper Wearing to shine as the former Liverpool youngster pulled off a sharp save low to his right to deny the lively Paterson.
But Wearing had no chance the next time the pair went head to head with Paterson neatly rounding him before finding the net with aplomb in the 74th minute.
Wildig had the chance to pull Town level after good work from Ryan Woods but the ex-Cardiff man saw his close range shot deflected just wide via Burton sub Reece Alexander.
Hector almost atoned for his own goal seven minutes from time but his well struck 30 yard drive whistled just wide.
Clever play from Wildig then created a chance for Bradshaw but his shot was straight at the keeper as Town continued to chase an equaliser to no avail.
SHREWSBURY: Connor Wearing; Dominic Smith, Connor Goldson, Michael Hector, Rob Purdie; Jack Gwilliams, Aaron Wildig, Ryan Woods, Elliot Turner; Ryan Doble, Tom Bradshaw. Unused subs: Scott Ryan, David Easthope, George Carpenter, Deion Evans.
BURTON: Dean Lyness, Andrew Corbett, Reece Brown, John McGrath (Reece Alexander 74), Tom Hassel, Marcus Holness, Jake Peverley, Jordan Chapell, Justin Richards, Matt Paterson, Chris Palmer. Unused subs: Josh Wilson, Kevin Poole.