Under-18s slip to narrow league defeat
Shrewsbury Town's youth team slipped to a narrow defeat at Tranmere Rovers in the league on Saturday - despite dominating the match.A Tomali Omotola strike before Ben Jago's penalty had the hosts two goals up at the break, and Rovers were able to hold on for the win despite George Hassall pulling one back for Town in injury time.
Town had made the better start at Raby Vale Training Ground, as Josh Ginnelly forced a strong save from Pilling early on.
Striker Kaiman Anderson's lob from the right also nearly squeezed in over the keeper who had to tip it over.
However, Tranmere took the lead in the 26th minute when Omotola burst onto a ball over the top on the left before surging towards goal and firing past Harry Lewis at his near post.
Lewis was called into action moments later as he stood up tall to block another Omotola shot, but he was unfairly penalised for Rovers' penalty after Omotola clattered into him before going down in the box.
Jago stepped up to fire the resulting spot-kick into the top right corner to double Tranmere's lead in the 35th minute.
After the break, the young Shrews dominated possession and chances but could only find their breakthrough a minute into added time through substitute George Hassall, who span in the box and fired past Pilling at his left post.
In the end, it was little too late as the final whistle went shortly after Town had pulled the goal back.
TOWN LINE-UP: 1 - Harry Lewis (GK); 2 - Jack Butts, 3 - Ben Burton, 4 - Ryan Sears, 5 - Jeff Watkins (c), 6 - Alex Fletcher, 7 - Niall Flint, 8 - Tom King, 9 - Kaiman Anderson, 10 - Josh Ginnelly, 11 - Jordan Wilson.
SUBS: Alex Ashton, Callum Roberts, Joel Carta, Joe Kenton, George Hassall.
NEXT FIXTURE: Blackpool v Shrewsbury Town (Football League Youth Alliance - North West league, Saturday 22 November, Squires Gate Training Ground, 11am kick-off).