Town out of the the FA Youth Cup
Two games in three days proved just a little too much for Shrewsbury Town's youngsters as their hopes of making further progress in the FA Youth Cup were dashed.
Town, 2-1 winners at Grimsby in the Midlands Youth Cup semi final last Thursday, fought hard against Bristol Rovers at the Greenhous Meadow on Saturday.
But it was the Pirates, always a threat from set pieces, who booked a place in round three of the FA Youth Cup thanks to a goal early in the second half.
Kaiman Anderson, who has been on the bench for the first team this season, forced an early save from the Rovers keeper while at the other end Callum Burton, Town's England under-18 international, was also assured when called upon.
After Rovers took the lead, Town's heads never went down as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser.
Dave Easthope's 25 yard drive was tipped over the bar by the Rovers keeper before Sam Molyneux, who grabbed the winner in round one at Histon, fired narrowly wide as Bernard McNally's side were edged out.
TOWN: Callum Burton, Matt Jones (Jack Richards 65), Jeff Watkins, Ryan Hickman, George Carpenter, Alex Fletcher, David Easthope (Scott Ryan 75), Niiall Flint, Josh Ginnelly, Sam Molyneux, Kaimen Anderson. Unused subs: Shaun Rowley, Alex Ashton.