Town unfortunate in their away tie at Fleetwood
U18’s tasted late defeat in their Saturday league tie away to Fleetwood Town. Town almost took the lead in the opening minutes through Ofori but Turner had other ideas. Rory Huntbach looked to head home the opener in the 32nd from Barnett’s but the linesman ruled it out. Town dominated in the second creating a number of opportunities. A tight offside decision saw another Town goal disallowed in the 57th, before skipper Ryan Barnett hit the crossbar in the 78th. It wasn’t to be for Salop and Fleetwood hit on the break in stoppage time to score the winner.
Team News:
Subs: Jack Atkinson, Rhys Davies, Lewi Redding, Reiss Corfield.
Fleetwood: Harry Turner, Alkeo Bani, Ryan Rydel, Ben Unsworth, Kuba Barlonshi, Liam Collins, Connor Finlayson, Alex Dodd, Sam O’hatteron, Jamie Cooke, Owen Bridge.
Subs: Katligo Mashigo, Alex Clayton, Greg McKerracher, Jack Bishop, Kian Makepeace.
Kick Off:
Town came close in the opening minutes after earning a corner for their efforts out wide. Barnett’s inviting ball into the middle was flicked on for Ofori in front of goal. Unbalanced, Ofori couldn’t get enough power behind the shot and Turner did well to hold it.
Fleetwood were next to create the chance. Working the ball nicely down the left-hand side, they found the space to pull the trigger on the edge. The player was always leaning back and the shot rose over the bar.
The game simmered after the opening ten minutes until Town had a shout for a penalty in the 18th. Tyrone Ofori did well to steam forward into the box but was fumbled to the ground by a clumsy challenge. The ref waved play on with the ball falling kindly for Barnett on the edge of the box. The skipper looked to drill the shot towards the bottom corner but a heavy deflection took it wide.
Cam Gregory saw little action between the sticks in the first. A seemingly well place Fleetwood corner kept him on his toes in the 27th but cam rose dominantly to collect the ball.
Strong positioning from Leask saw him pick up the ball in the middle and set Town on the counter. He found Agbozo on the right who used his power to carry it forward before finding Barnett on the edge. Barnett looked to find the bottom corner with a clean strike but Turner did well to tip it wide for a corner.
Huntbach rose highest in the box to meet the resulting corner, powering his header into the back of the net. The goal was disallowed however, the linesman ruling that Barnett’s corner had curled out of play.
Moments later, Fleetwood pressed high to force the error from Town. Dan Walker looked to play the ball back to Gregory but sliced past the ball with minimal connection. Gregory reacted quickly and collected the ball, Fleetwood appealed for the pass back but the referee said no.
Into the final moments of the half, a frustrated Ofori collected the ball inside Fleetwood’s half before driving forward to the edge. He wriggled his way into space before pulling the trigger with his left, the shot across goal just wide of the post.
Half Time: Fleetwood 0 Shrewsbury Town 0
Town started the second half in fifth gear pressing from the off. Gilpin did exceptionally well to outmuscle his man down the left wing before pulling a dangerous low ball across the box to Barnett. Ryan put his foot through it, connecting well but seeing it blocked and cleared to Taylor on the edge of the box. Kian looked to hit it first time but the shot glanced over the bar.
Substitution: Jack Leask and Dan Walker were replaced by Reiss Corfield and Rhys Davies in the 51st minute.
Davies was straight into the action, setting Town on the attack with a charging run down the left flank. The ball found its way to Barnett on the edge of the box who’s shot forced a strong save from turner.
Town had a second disallowed goal in the 57th minute. Gilpin did well to bring down a ball on the left before knocking it forward past his man and cutting an inviting ball across the face of goal. Town scrambled in numbers to slot the ball in at the far post but the liner ruled Gilpin offside in the build-up.
Disgruntled with the two disallowed goals, Town pressed on looking for a winner. A well-placed corner from Davies forced a scrambled clearance from Fleetwood. The ball fell to Taylor on the edge who hit it first time. The low shot deflected to Ofori who reacted well to force another strong save from Turner.
Agbozo was next to come close. Davies bent a corner right into the danger zone and Agbozo rose highest to meet the ball, his glancing header just wide of the top corner. Minutes later, Town came even closer hitting the crossbar. Gilpin did well to beat his man down the left before being hacked down from behind. The resulting free kick was cleared as far as Barnett on the edge, his shot from range looped over turner before pinging off the crossbar and out of play.
Gilpin did well to fight cramp in the final ten minutes and work his way down the left. Cutting back past his man he curled a nice ball towards the far post. Davies was there but couldn’t get the power behind it to beat an aware Turner.
Into stoppage time, Town piled men forward looking for a dissevered winner leaving themselves open at the back. Fleetwood capitalised beating Town to a loose ball and setting themselves on the counter in numbers. Fleetwood took their chance, slotting past Gregory to take a late lead.
Full Time: Fleetwood Town 1 Shrewsbury Town 0