Dan Udoh’s second-half penalty was the difference as Town's youngsters stood firm to beat Wolves U23s at the New Bucks Head.
First-half team; 1. Harry Burgoyne, 26. James Rowland, 6. Sean Goss, 19. Ryan Barnett, 22. Josh Daniels, 38. Jacob Bell, 23. Dan Udoh, 24. Ethan Ebanks-Landell, 25. Scott High, 36. Louis Lloyd, 39. Callum Wilson.
The first-half may have finished goalless, but Sam Ricketts' side created a few opportunities that certainly forced the away side into some stout defending.
Despite their academy status, the old cliché of men against boys hardly fit in what was a tight opening fifteen minutes from the away side, James Rowland and Ryan Barnett certainly looked to benefit from the 4-3-3 system developing a nice partnership on the left flank.
Wolves came out the blocks the quicker of the two sides but some composed defending from Ethan Ebanks-Landell set Shrewsbury on the break, it was Dan Udoh who sprung the offside trap and forced a save out of the Wolves goalkeeper.
Barnett looked to continue his pre-season run of form again posing a threat down the left-hand side, the Salop wide man took a tumble in the penalty area, but any penalty claims were quickly dismissed.
Sean Goss anchored a midfield three of Josh Daniels, and Scott High, along with Goss the two summer recruits grew into the half and had spells of possession looking again to free the lively Udoh, regardless they came in at the break level pegging.
Second-Half team; 1. Harry Burgoyne, 26. James Rowland, 6. Sean Goss, 19. Ryan Barnett, 22, Josh Daniels, 38. Jacob Bell, 23. Dan Udoh, 24. Ethan Ebanks-Landell, 25. Scott High, 36. Louis Lloyd, 39. Callum Wilson.
The second half had barely sparked into life when a clash heads left Jacob Bell stricken on the left touchline, the medical staff of both sides showed concern as the academy graduate was stretchered off, certainly a blow not just for the game but an injury this close to the season opener is always an added worry.
After the injury, the Shrews threatened right from the restart and some tight play on the edge of the area eventually saw Udoh brought down following a smart turn, the resulting penalty was superbly slotted away by that man Udoh who certainly deserved to have his name on the score sheet.
Harry Burgoyne, another of the former Wolves men, produced a smart save after Salop gave away a freekick 25 yards out to keep his side ahead with 15 minutes gone in the second-half.
Despite impressing in the first half Ebanks-Landell, was rested by manager Sam Ricketts with academy man Ben Kanida who was forced into some early action with a crucial block keeping the game one-nil to Town.
A flurry of substitutions left the game a little disjointed, it was Goss and High again who seemed to be the most composed in the middle of the park as Shrewsbury looked to up the tempo, but this was matched by the U23 outfit as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
The away side had spells of possession however Town coped with the pressure admirably and ultimately hung on to come away the victors. A performance defensively that will give Ricketts plenty of encouragement with 10 days left before Salop take on Middlesbrough in the League Cup.