Shrewsbury Town lose out 2-3 to Oxford United.
Town: Max O’Leary, Aaron Pierre (Scott Golbourne, 33), Dave Edwards, Ro-Shaun Williams, Omar Beckles, Callum Lang (Donald Love, 56), Josh Vela, Daniel Udoh, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Josh Laurent, Jason Cummings (Brad Walker, 45).
Subs: Harry Burgoyne, Scott Golbourne, Brad Walker, Donald Love, Conor McAleny, Sean Goss, Charlie Caton.
The U’s: Simon Eastwood, Josh Ruffels, Rob Dickie, Elliot Moore, Alex Rodriquez Gorrin (Dan Agyei, 57), Cameron Branagan, Matt Taylor (Jamie Mackie, 90), Sam Long, James Henry, Nathan Holland (Mark Sykes, 40), Marcus Browne.
Subs: Jack Stevens, Anthony Forde, Mark Sykes, Jamie Mackie, George Thorne, Dan Agyei, Liam Kelly.
Referee: Sebastian Stock Bridge
Assistants: Steven Plane and Peter Gooch
Fourth official: Andrew Dallison
Attendance: 6474 (928)
First Half:
In a game against an inform Oxford United, Town would have been expected to be on the back foot and defending strongly in the opening minutes. However, it was Town who came closest to taking the lead within the opening 10 minutes. Jason Cummings cut inside onto his strong foot just inside the box but Simon Eastwood made a good close-range save to deny Salop the early lead.
With just the second real chance of the game, Sam Ricketts’ men made the away side pay. Cummings played a great lofted ball through towards Daniel Udoh and under pressure the striker managed to poke the ball into the net for the opener in the 12th minute.
Town were going through a purple patch and nearly doubled the lead just four minutes later. Callum Lang and Josh Laurent linked up well for a one-two which saw Town’s number 28 through on goal. However, Eastwood converted on the ball well to make the save.
Things got better for Town with just over 10 minutes to go in the first-half. Callum Lang managed dribble into the box and found the back of the net with a driven effort into the corner of the net to double the Salop lead.
In what seemed a 50-50 challenge, Sebastian Stockbridge deemed Josh Vela’s challenge worthy of a second yellow card and the midfielder was sent off in the 35th minute.
With the last meaningful action of the half, during injury time, the away side managed to half their deficit. Marcus Browne managed to poke the ball past Max O’Leary from close range.
Second Half:
The away side came out from the half-time break determined to notch a goal against 10-men Town. Dan Agyei managed to find that goal with just under an hour on the clock. The substitute managed to fire an effort into the top corner of O’Leary’s net.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell was shown a yellow card in the 63rd minute for a foul just outside Town’s box.
Cameron Branagan was also booked shortly after for a foul in the middle of the park.
Scott Golbourne and Laurent were combining well on the left side of the pitch as Town looked to find the go-ahead goal. Despite being down to 10-men, Town continually looked dangerous on the break.
Unfortunately for Town, the away side managed to take the lead with just three minutes on the clock. Josh Ruffels jumped well to head home from close range.