Shrewsbury Town

Squad: Shaun Rowley, Tom Astley, George Carpenter, Ryan Hickman, David Easthope, Niall Flint, Alex Fletcher, Matty Jones, Josh Ginnelly, Sam Molyneux, Scott Ryan, Jeff Watkins, Jack Parrish, Dylan Sweeney.

With Callum Burton, Dominic Smith, and Kaiman Anderson included in the first team squad to face MK Dons we were able to include some under-16’s in our squad for our game at Hereford United on Saturday morning. As an Academy we are delighted that some players have progressed from our younger age groups and are now representing us in the first team squad. Now we are looking for some of the others to push themselves into contention.

Unfortunately the inconsistency in results continued as we fell to a 3-0 defeat. Although our performance wasn’t breath taking there were some positives to come out of the game. The boys are learning quickly that small mistakes will cost us. All three goals were supplied from wide areas and we didn’t do enough to stop the cross, we got caught the wrong side when marking, the defenders did not see man and ball, and all over the pitch we were reactive not proactive. 

Although we were 2-0 down at half time we had created some chances. Scott Ryan tested the Hereford keeper numerous times from range and David Easthope should have directed his free header on target but instead it just drifted wide of the post. Throughout the game we kept possession well inside our own half but we struggled to pen Hereford in their own half for sustained periods. More incisive movement and quality on the ball is needed from this point of view. In the second half Sam Molyneux hit the post from close range when he should have scored, and Niall Flint hit the cross bar late on with a powerful effort.