McAtee Goal Extends U18s' Unbeaten Run
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: Wrexham v Shrewsbury Town (Football League Youth Alliance - North West league, Saturday 9 April 2016, 11am kick-off). NEXT FIXTURE
ASSISTANTS: Mark Kelly & Allan Kynaston
: Jonny Wyatt REFEREE
BOOKED: Whelan (36).
UNUSED SUBS: Ellis Hancox.
: Callum Roberts (GK); Callum Tait, Sean Whelan, Akwaji Kwateng, Ben Roberts, Adam Joseph Robinson, Oliver Crankshaw (Michael Howard, 45) Lamin Jagne, Dylan Davidson, James Boyd, Joshua Earl. PRESTON NORTH END LINE-UP
SENT OFF: Grogan (78, two yellows).
BOOKED: Roberts (45).
GOAL: McAtee (16).
UNUSED SUBS: Aaron Gilpin, Jacob Rammell.
: Charlie Bannister (GK); Ryan Sears (Joel Bonner, 50), Callum Roberts, George Hughes, Callum Grogan (C), Chris Gallagher, Jack Butts, John McAtee (Ryan Barnett, 76), George Hassall (Charley Higgs, 62), Ethan Jones, Mathew Jones. SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP
FULL-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Preston North End
But Dawes' side had to see the game out to hold on for all three points.
He could also have scored a superb solo goal five minutes into added time.
Although Ethan Jones went close to a second with two minutes of normal time left when the striker held up the ball 20 yards out, turned inside and saw his low shot tipped around the far post.
Town were reduced to ten men with 12 minutes to go when Callum Grogan was shown a second yellow card.
McAtee should have scored his second with 23 minutes left when Chris Gallagher fed him clear through the centre one on one, but McAtee's low shots was saved by the goalkeeper's legs.
At the other end, Ethan Jones came inside from the right to the edge of the box but his low drive lacked the power to trouble Preston goalkeeper Callum Roberts.
James Boyd crossed deep from the right, Joshua Earl rose high at the far post and headed just wide of the far right corner.
Town got the second half underway but Preston could have equalised inside the opening minute of the restart.
HALF-TIME: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Preston North End
McAtee could also have doubled Town's lead in the 33rd minute when he robbed Roberts in midfield, bore down on the Preston goal and shot low and just wide of the far post.
Jones also had a penalty shout a minute later as he appeared to be tripped in the box before Callum Roberts shot wide.
Nine minutes later, Hassall fed Ethan Jones in space, the striker sped past North End defender Ben Roberts but his left-foot strike was parried behind for a corner by the goalkeeper.
Dawes' side did take the lead with 16 minutes on the clock. George Hassall squared the ball low across goal from the left and McAtee has a simple tap in from six yards out.
Preston got the game underway in heavy rain at Shrewsbury Sports Village but Town could have taken the lead in only the second minute when Ethan Jones drove into the North End penalty area and shot low and just wide of the left post.
FIRST HALF
Head of Academy coaching Ian Dawes made one change to the side which 2-1 at Burnley a week before - Jack Butts replaced Aaron Gilpin at right wing back.
TEAM NEWS
Shrewsbury's under-18s have only been beaten once in their last nine matches.
A first-half tap in from John McAtee was enough to hand Town all three points in the clash at Shrewsbury Sports Village.
Shrewsbury Town extended their unbeaten run to five matches in the Football League Youth Alliance - North West league with victory over Preston North End on Saturday morning.