Penalty shootout win gives Town two points in Checkatrade opener
Shrewsbury: Steve Arnold, Kieran Kennedy, Omar Beckles, Lee Angol (Lenell John-Lewis), Arthur Gnahoua (Charlie Colkett), Fejiri Okenabirhie, James Bolton (Ryan Haynes), Doug Loft, Luke Waterfall (C), Ollie Norburn, Ryan Barnett.
Subs: Joel Coleman, Ryan Haynes, Mat Sadler, Lenell John-Lewis, Alex Gilliead, Charlie Colkett, Josh Laurent.
Man City U21’s: Aro Muric, Colin Rosler, Cameron Humphreys (Joel Latibeaudiere), Nathanael Ogbeta, Tyreke Wilson (Alpha Diounkou), Claudio Gomes, Adrian Bernabe, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Rabbi Matondo, Nabil Touaizi, Benjamin Garre (Ian Poveda)
Subs: Tom Scott, Joel Latibeaudiere, Iker Pozo, Ian Poveda Taylor Richards, Alpha Diounkou, Keke Simmonds.
Referee: Paul Marsden.
Assistants: Christopher Husband and Steven Rushton.
Fourth Official: Christopher Sarginson.
Attendance: 1838 (85)
Shrewsbury Town started their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with a penalty shootout victory over Manchester City Under-21s, meaning they pick up two points. Lee Angol had put Town infront only for City to equalise from the spot in the 92nd minute. However, Town held their nerve in shootout.
Team News:
John Askey made Eight changes to his starting 11 after Saturday’s defeat to Luton.
First Half:
6th minute, Ryan Barnett gets a ball slipped through by Gnahoua, he is 1 on 1 with the keeper, has a left footed low shot but is saved. The keeper is almost on the 18 yard line and Loft tries to take a shot over the keeper but a diving save from Muric keeps the game at 0-0.
Man City kept playing out from the back and kept getting caught out. Town were hot on their heels and made several interceptions to put pressure on their box.
City started to thread some worrying balls through the back four to put Shrewsbury under pressure. Town stayed strong and matched their runs.
28th Minute Barnett stands out again as he turned the Man City left back and made a fantastic run down the line, he then held the ball up allowing Bolton to whip in a cross. City frantically managed to clear the ball out for a corner.
Loft switched the ball to Barnett who controlled it beautifully. He then crossed the ball and Beckles met it 6 yards from the goal. The ball found its way safely in Muric’s hands.
Man City looked dangerous on the counter attack. Rabbi Matondo showed Town his blistering pace as he brushed past two players. Beckles was there to block the shot.
The first half came to an end. Both teams were unable to score. Town had the most notable chances but were unable to convert. Ryan Barnett was at the heart of towns creativity.
Second Half:
Town started the half brightly with a superb chance. Barnett whipped another ball in from outside of the box. Lee Angol managed to head to ball just over the cross bar from 6 yards.
50th minute. The deadlock is broken. Town won a corner. The ball is lofted into the box. Luke Waterfall brought it down, he then passed it short to Lee Angol who turned and tucked it away into the bottom left of the goal.
60th minute, Town won another corner. Loft put it in and Luke Waterfall was there to meet it again. The ball looked to be heading into the top right corner but Muric met the ball comfortably.
City again looked dangerous on the counter attack. A quick break down the line from Diounkou ended up in a corner. Town dealt well with the resulting cross.
Town looked to be back in the ascendancy with a large amount of possession. The build up play ended with a 35 yard strike from Loft that went wide of the goal.
87th minute, Adrian Bernabe opened fire on the Town goal from 35 yards. The ball was driven low and hard just right of the goal. The only real chance City created all half.
In the 90th minute Haynes brought down Diounkou in the box and City were awarded a penalty. Touaizi stepped up to spot and placed the ball low into the right hand side of the goal with Arnold diving the other way.
Town then responded quickly earning themselves a corner. The ball was met by Waterfall who headed it to Okenabirhie who slotted it past Muric but was flagged offside.
At 1-1 the game headed to penalties:
Okenabirhie - Saved right
Touaizi - Saved left
Lenell - Scored bottom left
Bernabe - save to post
Loft - missed post
Matondo- scored top right
Norburn - Bottom left
Dele -Bashiru -Missed cross bar
Charlie Colkett - scored left
Town won 3-1.