Under-18s friendly: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Burton Albion
Another stunning strike from Josh Ginnelly saw Shrewsbury Town’s youth team conclude their pre-season schedule with victory against Burton Albion on Saturday.The midfielder, who scored a superb solo goal against Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday, repeated the trick with a second-half winner from out on the wing at Lilleshall National Sports Centre.
Ginnelly had made his first team debut a week before the Burton game and his goal, coupled with Harry Lewis’ first-half penalty save from Sam Austin, gave the Under-18s their second win of the week.
The conditions were once again scorching hot at Lilleshall, and it was Burton who made the better start with Charlie Gatter flicking over a header from Ben Fox’s free-kick.
However, Town came back at the visitors and Ginnelly showed a flash of quality on the left by teasing Brewers full-back Jack O’Brien before cutting inside and curling an effort narrowly over.
An even better chance fell for Kaiman Anderson in the box when Niall Flint sent defender Ryan Hickman’s searching ball up field across goal, but Anderson’s header was somehow punched off the goal line by Charlie Hornby.
The players were treated to water breaks in each half and, two minutes after the first, Burton were awarded a penalty when Dinagan burst through on goal and was brought down by Lewis.
Town’s goalkeeper made up for the foul, though, by diving low to his left to beat away Mark Shelton’s spot-kick and keep it goalless going into the break.
Half-time: Town 0-0 Burton
Ian Dawes’ side came out much stronger in the second period and only needed four minutes to create their first chance of the half, but Hornby came out to smother Anderson’s low attempt from the left.
However, a moment of brilliance gave Town the lead in the 55th minute as Ginnelly cut onto his right foot on the left byline and curled a high shot past the helpless Hornby - into the top right corner.
There was little Burton could do to get back level, and they were fortunate not to fall two goals behind when Ginnelly’s free-kick caused a scramble which resulted in the ball bouncing onto the Brewers’ crossbar.
The visitors only chances were hopeful shots from long range by Matt Murfin and substitute Shac Yates, and Town held on to their clean sheet for the win.
Dawes’ side will take their momentum into next Saturday’s Football League Youth Alliance (North West) league season opener at home to Fleetwood Town (11am kick-off, Lilleshall NSC).
Full-time: Town 1-0 Burton
TOWN LINE-UP: Lewis, Butts, B. Burton, Hickman, Watkins (c), Fletcher, Flint, King, Anderson, Ginnelly, Wilson.
SUBS: Millis, Ashton, Kenton, E. Jones, Carta, J. Jones, Hassell.
GOALS: Ginnelly (55).
BURTON LINE-UP: Hornby, O’Brien, Thorpe, Fox, Smith, Gatter, Hallahan, Shelton, Dinagan, Murfin (c), Austin.
SUBS: Sedjic, Pearson, Yates.
FULL LIST OF FRIENDLIES:
Sat 12 July - Town 2-1 TNS
Thu 17 July - Liverpool 2-0 Town
Sat 19 July - Cheltenham 5-2 Town
Tue 22 July - Town 5-2 Crewe
Sat 26 July – Town 1-0 Burton