Shrewsbury Town

Town: Wearing, Smith, Holmes, Phillips, Richards, Gwilliams, Evans, Musslewhite (Easthope 75), Stephenson (Jones 75), Ryan, Roberts

Subs not used: Burton

Goals: Gwilliams (Pen 55). 

You have periods in football where players have a bad run of form, coaches begin to doubt themselves or players just don’t understand the game or they just aren’t good enough for the next level.

We appear to be in this period and although some players are improving and showing signs they can step up, some are being left behind on a road which is short. 

So to the game, a steady first five minutes with assured passing and sensible decisions were quickly unfolded as Morecombe hit a couple of long balls we never dealt with and they began to force us back. The impressive Connor Wearing in goal kept us alive as best he could until the 24th minute when again we failed to deal with a cross from the right, the centre forward chests it down and forced an excellent save from Wearing only for the rebound to smashed into the net with our midfield watching.

This was followed by another on 31 minutes when again some pitiful defending gave Wearing no chance as the ball was crossed over and met to make it 2-0. Our reply before half time was full of effort but again lacked composure or quality in key areas.

Second half was improved as Gwilliams earned and scored a penalty on 55 minutes and Evans, Roberts and Ryan were all guilty of snatching at good chances to go ahead in the match. 

Defeats are always hard to take but more importantly at youth level it is the manner in which they do. When in football Saturday’s result makes your weekend and helps the week ahead, in contrast it now becomes a long and hard one.

Pete Wilding