Walsall 3-0 Shrewsbury Town
SHREWSBURY Town's development squad slipped to defeat against Walsall in the Final Third Development League - West Division fixture on Tuesday afternoon.Goals from Billy Clifford, Kieron Morris and Reece Flanagan gave the Saddlers the win at the Scholars Ground, home of Chasetown FC.
Town's starting line-up included two youth team scholars - Callum Grogan and Ben Burton - while all five of the substitutes were from the Under-18s squad.
FIRST HALF
The fixture provided much-needed game time for the Shrewsbury players although, after a scrappy start, Walsall were awarded a penalty in the eighth minute when Flanagan jinked into the box and was tripped.
Clifford stepped up to fire the resulting spot-kick into the top left corner, sending goalkeeper Callum Burton the wrong way.
At the other end, Jordan Clark got in behind the Saddlers' defence but was snuffed out when he approached the six-yard box.
Walsall were awarded a second penalty in the 23rd minute when a defence-splitting pass sent Jordan Murphy in behind the defence before the striker was fouled from behind by Mark Ellis.
This time, Burton guessed right by diving down to his bottom right corner to save Morris' spot-kick.
However, Morris made up for his miss a minute later with a strike from outside the penalty area which found the bottom right corner.
Town's best chance of the first half fell to winger Ashley Vincent but his low drive across goal from the left, after being picked out by Clark, was turned away by goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.
HALF-TIME: Walsall 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
The Shrews became more purposeful after the break and winger James Caton let fly with a left-foot drive from outside the box, with the effort flashing wide.
Aaron Wildig also linked up well with Clark and Vincent on the edge of the penalty area before his side-footed attempt was palmed away.
And the Saddlers rounded off their win in the 76th minute with Flanagan the man to find the Town net.
FULL-TIME: Walsall 3-0 Shrewsbury Town
SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP: Callum Burton (GK); Cameron Gayle, Ben Burton, Callum Grogan, Mark Ellis, Anthony Griffith, James Caton, Aaron Wildig, Scott Vernon, Jordan Clark, Ashley Vincent.
UNUSED SUBS: Alex Ashton (GK), Ryan Hickman, Alex Fletcher, Josh Ginnelly, Kaiman Anderson.
WALSALL LINE-UP: Craig MacGillivray (GK); Liam Kinsella, Rico Henry, Kyle Rowley, Matt Preston, Reece Flanagan, Luke Delaney (Romario Reid, 61'), Billy Clifford, Jordan Murphy (Lewis Probert, 61'), Levi Rowley, Kieron Morris.
UNUSED SUBS: Liam Roberts (GK), Tevin Shakespeare.
GOALS: Clifford (Pen, 8'), Morris (24'), Flanagan (76').
REFEREE: Guy Stretton.
ASSISTANTS: Sam Penhall & Paul Hands.
FOURTH OFFICIAL: James Clements.
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