Under-18s suffer first home defeat of the season
Goals from Tom King and Kaiman Anderson were not enough for Shrewsbury Town's youth team as they fell to their first home defeat of the season against Oldham Athletic on Saturday.Town were back playing at Shrewsbury Sports Village and took the lead after just 50 seconds, when King smashed in across goal from the left.
Oldham equalised through Jordache Walters in the 15th minute but the young Shrews retook the lead when Anderson rounded off a superb passing move by rolling the ball into the far corner.
However, the Latics responded by levelling again on the stroke of half-time via a powerful strike from Devante Jacobs.
And Tony Philliskirk's side nicked all three points with five minutes left when Ryan Ellison converted a penalty, before Town had King sent off in added time to cap a disappointing day all-round.
FIRST HALF
Having played their home games at Lilleshall National Sports Centre throughout pre-season and for the opening league game against Fleetwood Town, the young Shrews returned to Shrewsbury Sports Village for Saturday's match.
And head of academy coaching Ian Dawes made four changes to the side beaten 1-0 at Walsall a week before, with goalkeeper Harry Lewis, Nathan Millis, Alex Fletcher and Jordan Wilson all coming in for Alex Ashton, Jack Butts, Joel Carta and Ethan Jones.
Rain poured down from the first whistle but it did not stop Town from making the perfect start, as Niall Flint picked out King on the left edge of the penalty area before the latter lashed a left-footed strike into the far right corner, for his third goal of the season, with only 50 seconds on the clock.
Oldham looked to hit back six minutes later when captain Jack Tuohy flicked wide a header from a corner, and they did grab an equaliser in the 15th minute.
Striker Walters collected the ball on the edge of the Town box before turning and rifling a powerful low strike - off his left foot - to leave Harry Lewis with no chance at his left corner.
The Latics continued to press from thereon but the young Shrews retook the lead in the 22nd minute with a clever team move.
One-touch passing between Josh Ginnelly, Wilson and Anderson resulted in the latter finding space on the right side of the box before he rolled the ball across goal into the far left corner for his first of the campaign.
Town could then have created a two-goal lead before half-time when Flint latched onto Lewis' long kick forward on the right and burst down on goal, but the midfielder was unable to loft over the oncoming Chris Renshaw.
Chances continued to arrive for either side before Philliskirk's side again equalised a minute before half-time with another effort into the corner.
This time Jacobs struck low from long range on the right and Lewis was unable to reach the ball at his right-hand post, meaning the two teams went in level at the break.
HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Oldham Athletic
Town started the second period strongly and skipper Jeff Watkins got up to head a corner from Flint straight into the goalkeeper's hands.
At the other end, Lewis was called into action to save low from Walters when the striker got in behind the Shrews defence.
But it was Town who had the better chances of the half, with Anderson being denied by Renshaw at his near post while substitute George Hassall nearly squeezed one in following a corner.
And the best of the lot fell for Anderson with ten minutes to go, but the striker sliced his effort wide from close range after Ginnelly has sprayed a low ball across the box from the left.
Town were then made to pay for their missed chances with five minutes left, when the referee awarded Oldham a penalty after a foul by substitute Butts.
Ellison stepped up to fire the ball low into the bottom left corner to give the Latics a late lead.
The young Shrews struggled to get the ball back from thereon and King was sent off for a late challenge in added time.
It meant Town fell to their first home defeat of the season and gave Oldham their first victory of the 2014/15 Football League Youth Alliance (North West) campaign.
FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 2-3 Oldham Athletic
TOWN LINE-UP: Harry Lewis, Ryan Hickman (Butts, 72), Nathan Millis, Ben Burton, Jeff Watkins (c), Alex Fletcher, Niall Flint, Tom King, Kaiman Anderson, Josh Ginnelly, Jordan Wilson (Hassall, 63).
SUBS: Alex Ashton, Jack Butts, Joel Carta, George Hassall, Joe Kenton.
GOALS: King (1), Anderson (22).
BOOKED: Butts, King (sent off).
OLDHAM LINE-UP: Chris Renshaw, Callum Etches (Parmer, 57), Eddie Fulwood, Ryan Ellison, George Edmundson, Alex Read, Emil Tansinda, Jack Tuohy (c), Jordache Walters, Devante Jacobs, Jamie Stott.
SUBS: Jake Hargreaves, Rio Murray, Rahul Parmer, Kallum Mantack, Lee Knight.
GOALS: Walters (15), Jacobs (44), Ellison (pen, 86).
NEXT LEAGUE FIXTURE: Burnley v Town (Saturday 6 September, 11am kick-off).
To view the latest league tables and information from the Youth Alliance, click here.