Town 0 Leyton Orient 3
Shrewsbury: Weale, Goldson, Jones, Mkandawire, Jacobson, Taylor, Summerfield (McAllister 75), Wildig, Parry, Bradshaw, Burke:
Subs: Anyon, McAllister, McQuade, Smith, Woods
Leyton Orient: Jones, Cuthbert, Baudry, Clarke (c), Omozusi, Odubajo, James (Bartley 75), Vincelot, Cox (Lasimant 87), Lisbie (Batt 66), Mooney
Subs: Sawyer, Larkins, Batt, Lee, Lasimant, Gorman, Bartley
Bookings: Orient: Omozusi (32) foul
Town: Wildig (67) foul
Att: 4413 (358)
Three second half goals condemned Shrewsbury to their first league defeat of the season and made it two wins from two for Leyton Orient. After a scoreless first half, two headers inside six devastating minutes from striker David Mooney put Orient on their way to earning the points, and with the game entering stoppage time, Moses Odubajo added a third to send Town to a heavy defeat.
The opening goal arrived 12 minutes into the second half when Mooney headed down past Weale at the backpost after a pinpoint cross by Scott Cuthbert. His second came as a result of poor Town defending. Cuthbert's long throw wasn't dealt with by a static back line and the striker was allowed the freedom of the box to head firmly past Chris Weale. Mooney now has three for the season whereas Town are still searching for their first League One goal.
Shrewsbury made two enforced changes to the team that lost to Bolton in the Capital One Cup in midweek. Lively 19 year old Aston Villa striker Burke started alongside Tom Bradshaw after agreeing a loan deal on Thursday. He replaced John Marsden who will miss up to eight weeks after breaking a bone in his foot. Connor Goldson was drafted into the right back position for his first start of the season, in place of Newcastle loanee James Tavernier who picked up an ankle injury in training. It's hoped he'll be fit for next Saturday's game with Swindon. Jon Taylor was passed fit to play despite limping off on Tuesday, but Turner was only able to name 5 subs in Town's first away game of the season.
Shrewsbury had to withstand early Orient pressure, as the home side enjoyed the bulk of possession and chances inside an ominous first 20 minutes. David Mooney saw the first sight of goal, cutting in from the right, but his shot from just inside the area lacked any real power and Weale was able to pick up easily at his near post. There was another let off for Town soon after when the tricky Dean Cox crossed into the area from the right, Paul Parry missed his kick, and a snap shot from Mathieu Baudry flashed just wide of the keeper's right hand post.
Town continued to be on the back foottt, defendindoggedlylyly against a lively Orient and were relieved to see Nathan Clarke head over from a corner, Moonepile driververer deflect just over the top and Kevin Lisbback heelkheel flick dribble inches wide.
But as the half progressed, Shrewsbury grew into the game and began to create chances of their own. The best opening for Turner's side came from a Taylor cross on the right, expertly chested down by Tom Bradshaw to Aaron Wildig whose first time shot was brilliantly parried by Jones. No blue-and-amber shirt was able to follow up the rebound. Jones also did well to save Paul Parry's dipping 25 yard free kick, low to his right. The keeper's gloves were also stung by a well struck drive from loanee Burke, impressive in the first half, while the 19 year old Dubliner also saw another effort skim narrowly wide. Joe Jacobson also let fly with a speculative effort late in the first half but saw his shot sail just over.
Town struggled to get going in the second half and found chances hard to come by. Jones was a virtual spectator after the re-start wth the Orient defence never seriously troubled.
The early warning signs were there for Shrewsbury when Mooney headed wastefully over from a looping Odubajo's cross. Weale also did well to gather a stooping Vincelot header.
But when the opening goal came, Orient never looked like a side ready to sit back and relinquish their advantage. The lead was nearly doubled when Lisbie's shot was cleared off the line by Goldson and Cox's follow-up was smashed high and wide. Tamika Mkandawire saw a glancing header drop well wide from a Taylor corner in one of Town's better moments of the half. Russell Slade's side always looked dangerous going forward and came within inches of making it 3-0 late in the game when Odubajo crashed a shot against the inside of the post. But the tricky wide man wasn't to be denied and rubbed salt into wounds by scoring a third and sealing the win.
Shrewsbury kept going and continued to play some decent football, but cutting edge and creativity was in short supply and Orient cantered to a win.