Under-18s Extend Unbeaten Run To Seven Games
Shrewsbury Town's youth team extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a hard-earned draw at Wigan Athletic in the league on Saturday.
The two sides went in level at the break at Robin Park Arena before defender Callum Roberts fired Shrewsbury in front in the second period.
However, Wigan equalised through Josh Gregory's header from a free-kick with ten minutes to go.
TEAM NEWS
Head of Academy coaching Ian Dawes had to make six changes to the side which beat Mansfield Town in the Youth Alliance Cup two weeks before.
Joel Bonner, Jack Butts, Chris Gallagher, Jordan Wilson, Ethan Jones and Tom King, who all started in the win at the Stags, missed out in place of Callum Grogan, Joel Carta, Joe Kenton, Josh Agbozo, George Hassall and Mathew Jones.
FIRST HALF
The opening period proved to be a quiet affair although it was Wigan who had the better of the chances.
The Latics were denied by the post in the 12th minute when a low cross from the Wigan right was turned against his own near post by Roberts.
The hosts were then denied from taking the lead with 25 minutes on the clock when Callum Lang was thread through one on one and saw his shot brilliantly saved by Town goalkeeper Leon Reece.
Reece then made another great save just past the half-hour mark to turn away Lang's high shot from the inside right of the penalty area.
There was also one last chance for the Latics before the break as Lang headed wide of the near post from Alex Lingard's deep cross from the left.
And it remained goalless at the interval.
HALF-TIME: Wigan Athletic 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
Wigan continued to search for the opener after the break and Lang blasted into the near side netting from the right five minutes after the restart.
However, it was the young Shrews who took the lead with 55 minutes on the clock.
Mathew Jones launched a free-kick from deep, just inside the Wigan half, the goalkeeper was beaten to the ball in the air and Roberts smashed the loose ball into the empty net with ease from close range.
Town goalkeeper Reece had to remain on guard from there on but he was finally beaten in the 80th minute as Lingard's free-kick from wide on the left was head back across goal and in at the far post by Gregory.
The result meant the under-18s' six-match winning run came to end but they remain unbeaten in their last seven.
: Leon Reece (GK); Ryan Sears, Callum Grogan (c), Callum Roberts, Joe Kenton (Ryan Barnett, 86), Mathew Jones, Josh Agbozo, Joel Carta, George Hughes, John McAtee (Tom King, 90+3), George Hassall (Charley Higgs, 50).SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP
FULL-TIME: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
UNUSED SUBS: Thumpa Mwandwe.
GOAL: Roberts (55).
: Kelland Absalam (GK); Josh Beaumont, Sam Stubbs, Luke Burke (c), Alex Lingard, Chris Merrie, Josh Gregory, Callum Lang, Matty Rimmer (Nathan Randell, 65), Chris Sang, James Barrigan.
WIGAN ATHLETIC LINE-UP
UNUSED SUBS: Theo Roberts, Charlie Forecast, Matty Taylor, Jamie Cotter.
GOAL: Gregory (80).
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: Shrewsbury Town v Blackpool (Football League Youth Alliance - North West league, Saturday 24 October, 11am kick-off).NEXT FIXTURE