Goals from Okenabirhie and Colkett give Town win over Brewers
Shrewsbury Town: Steve Arnold, James Bolton, Kieran Kennedy, Ryan Sears, Ryan Haynes, Josh Laurent, Charlie Colkett, Ryan Barnett, Fejiri Okenabirhie, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Arthur Gnahoua.
Subs all used: Luke Ward, Tom Davies, Kian Taylor, James Rowland, Lifumpa Mwandwe
A Shrewsbury Town XI faced off with Burton this afternoon at a behind closed doors friendly at St George’s Park.
Town made a comeback to win the game 2-1 after going a goal down to Nigel Clough’s side. Charlie Colkett and Fejiri Okenabirhie were the two Town players to get themselves onto the score sheet.
First-half:
Town started the friendly well, dominating the play and dictating the possession. Aaron Amadi-Holloway was proving to be a constant pain for the Brewers defenders.
Against the run of play Burton managed to nick a goal in the seventh minute, to put their team ahead. A low-struck shot from outside of the box hit the inside of the post, giving Steve Arnold no chance, as the ball nestled in the back of the net.
Town still looked like the team in the driving seat as the game went on. Amadi-Holloway and Fejiri Okenabirhie’s clever link-up play nearly paid off for Town, as Okenabirhie slipped through and narrowly missed the target with a low driven cross.
30 minutes in - Charlie Colkett registered an equaliser for Town. After more dominant play Colkett found himself on the edge of the box with half a yard of space. The midfielder hit the ball clean, but the wobble from the wind wrong-footed the keeper and the ball was fumbled into the back of the net.
Town went into the break level with Burton on the score-sheet. The Brewers keeper made a crucial save towards the back end of the half that saw the Brewers hold on.
Second-half
Both teams came out for the second half determined to compete and dominate the ball. Town were still the side sitting in pole-position but couldn’t create clear-cut chances against the Burton defence.
Around 12 minutes into the half Burton did manage to put the ball into the net, but the referee had deemed the close range tap-in to be offside.
A good save by Arnold kept the score level around the 75 minute mark. Marcus Harness did well to peel away from his man to let off a shot from inside the box. Two strong hands from Town’s keeper ensured the ball was parried away.
Town finally took the lead in the backstretch of the game. Okenabirhie stuck a low and hard shot right into the bottom corner of the net, giving Town the deserved lead as the game was closing out.
The game ended 2-1 to Askey’s men after two well taken goals from his team.