Shrewsbury Town 3-2 Ellesmere Rangers
Shrewsbury Town will face AFC Telford in the final of the Shropshire Senior Cup following a hard-fought victory over Ellesmere Rangers in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.Town fielded their youth team for the clash at the Greenhous Meadow, and goals from Niall Flint, Jordan Wilson and an own goal from Ellesmere's Sean Griffiths helped the Shrews to victory.
Town made a positive start and took the lead in the eighth mintue after winning a corner on the left.
Josh Ginnelly's cross from the left came out to Flint on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder picked his head up and fires low into the bottom right corner past a helpless Lee Davis.
Ellesmere were level seven minutes later, however, when a misplaced back pass from Ginnelly allowed Ryan a free run in on goal for the visitors and he was able to calmy slide the ball under Alex Ashton to equalise.
Wilson put Town back in fron in the 42nd minute after Ginnelly had struck the underside of the crossbar with a superb effort off his left foot on the edge of the penalty area.
Wilson had the simple task of rolling in the loose ball with the goalkeepr on the floor.
HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Ellesmere Rangers
After the interval, Town moved two goals in front in the 55th minute as Ginnelly's inswinging free-kick from out on the left wing went in at the far corner off the head of Ellesmere's Sean Griffiths.
However, Ian Dawes' side were reduced to ten men when Niall Flint received two yellow cards - the first for a dive before the second for a foul on the touchline minutes later.
And Ellesmere pulled the game back to 3-2 in the 65th minute when Ashton fired an attempted clearance straight to Ryan who had the simple task of finishing one on one.
But despite the time left, and an added five, Ellesmere were unable to find an equaliser and Town held on to reach the final, where they will face AFC Telford - date to be confirmed.
FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 3-2 Ellesmere Rangers
SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP: Alex Ashton (GK); Ryan Hickman, Ben Burton, Callum Grogan, Jeff Watkins (c), Alex Fletcher, Joe Kenton (Nathan Millis, 85), Niall Flint, Kaiman Anderson, Josh Ginnelly (Jack Butts, 90), Jordan Wilson.
UNUSED SUBS: Callum Roberts, Tom King, George Hassall.
GOALS: Flint (13), Wilson (43), Griffith (o.g., 55).
ELLESMERE RANGERS LINE-UP: Lee Davis (GK); George Carpenter, Jack Griffiths, Tom Pike, Jay Stoker, Josh Parker, Josh Brown, Sean Griffiths (c) (Paddy Townsend, 63), Scott Ryan, Matt Ryan (Ryan Jones, 56), Matt Jones (Sean Jennings, 68).
UNUSED SUBS: Brendon Price, Ed Owen.
GOALS: S. Ryan (15, 65).
BOOKED: Parker (54), Pike (77).
REFEREE: Adam Dean
Assistants: Ciaron Hanna & Mark Groves
Fourth Official: Mark Lewis
ATTENDANCE: 141