IT was a frustrating morning for the Shrewsbury U-18’s as they lost 1-0 to Fleetwood town in a tense game.
The result could have gone either way, with both teams creating multiple chances to take the lead; but it was Anthony Williams for Fleetwood who broke free at a corner and netted the only goal of the game.
The Shrews best chance of the game came when Charlie Caton was brought down in the area and the referee awarded a penalty. Luke Ward stepped up to take it in the 87th minute but he powered the spot kick over the crossbar.
Ward also had another chance to level the scores earlier in the second half when he lost his marker at a corner and had a free header at goal that he nodded just wide.
Caton also had an opportunity to score in the first half when Shrewsbury almost completed the perfect breakaway goal. Bevan gathered the ball from a Fleetwood corner and played a long ball to Liam Thomas, who sprinted the length of the pitch to cross for Caton, but he headed high and wide.
After many of the squad were included in the Shropshire Senior Cup final on Tuesday night David Longwell rotated the squad and one player who impressed was goal-keeper Jaden Bevan.
Bevan kept his side in the game on several occasions including an excellent double save in the first half and denying a long-range effort that was destined for the bottom corner.
Squad rotation has been key for the young Shrews, as they now face Huddersfield on Tuesday in the Cup, but they will get a deserved rest as they do not have a game next Saturday.
Shrewsbury Town: JADEN.BEVAN, ZAK.HARTLEY, DAN.WALKER, LEWIS.REDDING (c) (ARCHIE.ELMORE 72’), EDAN.SEARS, LUKE.WARD, NIGEL.ARIS (JAMAINE.TURNER 57’), ETHAN.O’TOOLE, CHARLIE.CATON, R.GROSVENOR, L.THOMAS (L.DUBERRY 72’)
Subs: S.AGIUS, C.DIXON, E.TIBBS