Shrewsbury Town

Poor second half display gives Bury comfortable win

Town: Jack Atkinson, Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts (Matt Jones 65), George Hughes (Jack Leask 65) Jake Kerins (Cameron Esien 52), Joel Bonner, Aaron Gilpin, Chris Gallagher (George Hassall 75), Charley Higgs, John McAtee (Ryan Barnett 55), Tyrone Ofori

Bury: Cameron McCulloch, Douglas Nyaupembe, Ciaran Best, Will Osgathorpe, Charlie Mulgrew, Callum Styles, Tsun Dai, Faustin Makela, Nathan Turner, Dion Johnston, Joe Adams

Subs: Jack Hatton, Brandon Lockett, Rob Harker, Wealth Da Silver, Will Ferry

A disapppointing second display from Town allowed Bury to ease to a 2-0 victory. Town had the better of the first half, but some sloppy defending in the second allowed Bury to take all three points, leaving Town to pick themselves up ahead of Tuesday Night's FA Youth Cup clash with Accrington Stanley.

Team News:
There was a change of formation for Matt Rains’ side after the 3-1 defeat to Blackpool last time out. Town went with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Aaron Gilpin and Tyrone Ofori on the wings and Ryan Sears returning to the side at right back after his suspension.

First Half:
It was a scrappy opening 10 minutes as neither side managed to get any control of the ball. Jake Kerins came closest for Town when a Chris Gallagher found him with his back to goal, but his shot on the turn went well over the bar.

Bury then received the first card of the day as Faustin Makela was booked for dissent.

Town then had a great chance to take the lead when Charley Higgs used his pace and power to get in behind the Bury defence, but his shot was pulled wide when 1 on 1 with the Bury ‘keeper.

Bury had a sustained period of possession midway through the half, but did nothing with it as Town’s defensive unit stood strong.

Town then had a header cleared off the line by a Bury man when Chris Gallagher’s corner found the head of Jake Kerins, but Tsun Dai was there to clear.

Shrewsbury began to see more of the ball in the last 15 minutes of the half, with Aaron Gilpin at the heart of Town’s best play, but the right winger didn’t have the end product required on a couple of occasions.

Town did have the ball in the back of the net when John McAtee turned smartly away from his man and finished, but Tyrone Ofori was judged to be interfering with play and the goal was ruled out for offside.

Half-Time: 0-0

Second Half:

The half started with a worrying injury to Jake Kerins. The centre half had gone up for a Town corner and hit his head as he attempted a diving header. After a few minutes on the floor he managed to get to his feet and was replaced by Cameron Esien.

Town then made a second substitution 5 minutes later as John McAtee was replaced by Ryan Barnett.

Bury had come out far brighter in the second half and their pace was causing problems for the Town backline.

Eventually the pressure led to a goal when Joe Adams was fouled right on the edge of the Town box and Faustin Makela hit a perfectly placed free-kick into the postage stamp and beyond the grasp of Jack Atkinson.

Town made another couple of subs after the goal as Matt Rains began to rest players ahead of Tuesday Night’s FA Youth Cup clash. Callum Roberts and George Hughes were replaced by Matt Jones and Under 16 Jack Leask.

Bury now looked the far more dangerous side and Jack Atkinson was forced into a good save after some good work down the left hand side.

Town then made their final change of the day as George Hassall came on for Chris Gallagher.

The changes seemed to wake Town up and they came close when Matt Jones’ cross was cleared off the line by a Bury defender. Jack Leask then forced McCulloch in the Bury goal into a fine diving save from 25 yards.

Bury could have sealed it when substitute Rob Harker went through on goal, but Atkinson made a good save. However, the Town goalie couldn’t keep the same man out a minute later after a good through-ball from Will Ferry put Harker in on goal and he made it count with a cool finish.

The second goal appeared to kill off Town and Bury began to dominate. Will Ferry was at the heart of Bury’s best work and his 20 yard strike crashed off the crossbar and was scrambled to safety.

Town’s best chance of the final 10 minutes fell to Aaron Gilpin after some good work from Higgs and Hassall played him in down the right, but his shot was smashed well over the bar and Town failed to create any more chances.

Full Time: 0-2