Shrewsbury's run in the FA Youth Cup comes to an end.
Town: Sam Agius, Zac Hartley, Dan Walker, Lewis Redding (Lewis Duberry, 68), Thomas Davies, Luke Ward, Jamaine Turner (William Thomas, 45), James Rowland, Charlie Caton, Ryan Grosvenor (Ethan O’Toole, 45), Archie Elmore.
Subs: Jaden Bevan, Ethan O’Toole, Edan Sears, William Thomas, Lewis Duberry.
Sunderland: Jack Newman, Tom Smith (Lillian Compper, 82), Logan Pye, Daniel Neil, Johnathan Krakue (Jack Armstrong, 84), Harry Ord, Ryan Wombwell, Joe Hughill, Cole Kiernan, James Foster, Bali Mumba (Daniel Jones, 76).
Subs: Daniel Jones, Oliver Basey, Jack Armstrong, Lillian Compper, Liam Miller, Ellis Taylor.
Shrewsbury Town’s FA Youth Cup journey came to an end this evening, as Sunderland AFC’s Under 18’s managed to secure a 5-2 win against Salop.
First Half:
Despite the young Shrews having a bright start to the FA Youth Cup fixture with Sunderland AFC, it was the away side who managed to take the lead shortly after the 10-minute mark. A sharp and direct run saw Bali Mumba earn a yard of space inside the box, and the forward dispatched a great effort into the far corner of the net.
Town suffered another blow in the first-half, with the Black Cats doubling their lead. Despite Sam Agius making a good one-on-one save from Cole Kiernan’s shot, Joe Hughill was on hand to slam in the rebound for his team.
The Black Cats were the team in the ascendancy as the first-half drew to a close, and the away side made their pressure count with a third goal. Daniel Neil got on the end of a cutback pass and slammed home to make it 3-0.
Things only got worse with just a matter of seconds left in the first period. A mistake from Agius saw his effort to clear the ball rebound off a Sunderland forward and into the back of the net.
The half came to an end with the away side taking a four-goal advantage into the break.
Second Half:
Town’s form improved in the second-half, and the Shrews were pilling good pressure on the away side. James Rowland provided a number of good crosses into the box but no Town forward could covert the pressure into a goal with 10-minutes on the clock.
Town nearly found the net to pull a goal back through William Thomas. Ethan O’Toole did well to find his teammate with a through ball, but the Town man couldn’t find the target and narrowly put the ball wide.
The breakthrough finally came for the Shrews in the 68th minute. James Rowland’s corner kick found Luke Ward at the back post. The defender headed the ball through a sea of bodies and into the back of the net.
Despite a good half from Town, Sunderland made it five goals with two minutes to go. A calmly slotted finish from Joe Hughill saw the Black Cats extend their lead.
Town registered an immediate response through Charlie Caton got on the end of a driven cross and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Unfortunately for his team, it was too little too late.
The game came to an end with Town ending their journey in the FA Youth Cup with a 5-2 defeat to the North-East outfit.