Young Town side fall to slim defeat at the Greenhous Meadow
A youthful Shrewsbury Town reserve team were edged out by a late goal as they lost 1-0 to Morecambe at the Greenhous Meadow in their last Final Third Development League game of the season this afternoon.
Morecambe grabbed the only goal of the game two minutes from time when Ryan Williams fired a 35 yard free kick to the top corner of the net.
Town fielded a young side captained by Wales under-19 international defender Dominic Smith which also included England under-18 international goalkeeper Callum Burton.
Morecambe put out a more experienced team under the control of reserve team manager Stewart Drummond, the former Town captain.
Goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou was another Shrewsbury old boy back in familar surroundings while Morecambe also gave games to several others with first team experience.
Shrewsbury were first to threaten when striker Jeff Watkins fired in a low shot which Arestidou got right behind.
The Morecambe keeper was then called into action by Kaiman Andeson before Padraig Amond broke into the box at the other end with his deflected effort coming back off the near post.
Amond then went close again when his far post header was impressively blocked by keeper Burton as the first half ended goalless.
Town's youngsters opened the second half brightly with a well struck shot from Watkins turned around a post by Arestidou.
It was then Burton's turn to impress again when he kept out a close range effot from sub Danny Mitchley with his feet.
Mitchley then lifted a shot from six yards well over the bar after a great run and cross from Marcus Marshall.
Town were much closer to snatching the lead when winger Josh Ginnelly curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Town had a great chance to claim maximum points in the last five minutes but Anderson fired into the side netting.
Morecambe then went straight up the other end to score their 88th minute minute with Williams finding the top corner of the net from a 35 yard free kick.
Ginnelly almost struck a fine equaliser but his 30 yard free kick was tipped over the bar by the keeper as Town's youngsters lost narrowly.
TOWN RESERVES: Callum Burton, Ryan Hickman, Dominic Smith, Ben Burton, Nathan Millis, Alex Fletcher, Niall Flint, Ethan Jones (Joe Kenton 69), Kaiman Anderson, Josh Ginnelly, Jeff Watkins. Unused sub: Alex Ashton.
MORECAMBE RESERVES: Andreas Arestidou, Aaron McGowan, Tony Diagne (Ben Thomas 46), Joe McGee, Chris Doyle, Will Bell, Daniel Dunleavy, Padraig Amond (Danny Mitchley 46), Jack Sampson (Daniel McCoy 61), Ryan Williams, Marcus Marshall.