2-1 victory for Under-18s at Lilleshall NSC
First-half goals from Ethan Jones and Kaiman Anderson fired Shrewsbury Town’s youth team to victory over The New Saints in a friendly on Saturday.Ian Dawes’ side, playing their first pre-season match under the new head of coaching, took the lead in the eighth minute when Jones drilled home Niall Flint’s low cross at the far post.
Town continued to attack in the opening period and scored a second on the stroke of half-time as Anderson tucked away a close-range finish from Jordan Wilson’s pull back.
However, TNS came out stronger after the break and eventually got a goal back with five minutes left thanks to an unstoppable strike, which flew into the top corner, from Greg Evans on the edge of the penalty box.
The young Shrews held on at the end, though, to start their pre-season schedule with a positive result.
TOWN LINE-UP: Ashton, Butts, J. Jones, Hickman, Watkins, Fletcher, Flint, King, Anderson, E. Jones, Wilson.
GOALS: E. Jones (8), Anderson (45).
TNS LINE-UP: Wycherley, Edwards, Wells, J. Jones, Pryce, Murch, Evans, Millington, D. Jones, L. Evans, Ash.
GOALS: Evans (85).
Town will face Liverpool’s Under-18s in their next pre-season friendly on Thursday (12.30pm kick-off at the Reds’ Academy).
FULL LIST OF FRIENDLIES:
Sat 12 July - Town 2-1 TNS
Thu 17 July - Liverpool (12.30pm, Liverpool FC Academy)
Sat 19 July - Cheltenham Town (A) (11am kick-off)
Tue 22 July - Crewe Alexandra (H)
Sat 26 July - Burton Albion (H)
Tue 29 July - Huddersfield Town (H)