Town narrowly lose out to Crewe Alexandra.
Shrewsbury Town's fixture with Crewe Alexandra ended with the away side taking home all three points.
Owen Dale was the man on the score sheet to ensure the Railwaymen secured a 1-0 win at Montgomery Waters Meadpw.
With only seconds on the clock, Town nearly made a dream start. A throw-in from the Salop half was flicked on into the path of Shaun Whalley who nudged it forward for Harry Chapman. The midfielder knocked it past the centre half and looked to chip the keeper from close range but miscued the effort with Dave Richards in the Crewe goal bearing down on him.
Despite Town’s good showing, it was the railwaymen who had the first shot on target through Daniel Powell, his effort was tame and easy pickings for Matija Sarkic.
Chapman continued to show his good form from the weekend, pulling the strings in the final third, he managed to spring Dan Udoh free and the frontman held the ball up well. The move brought Ryan Sears into play as his cross found Whalley in the middle but he couldn’t guide the header on target.
Crewe were the side to break the deadlock against the run of play. Ethan Ebanks-Landell lunged to stop a cross coming in but a deflection took the ball past Sarkic and towards the back post where Owen Dale was on hand to tap it home.
Whalley and Chapman continued to look lively as the half wound down. They worked the ball well out to Nathanael Ogbeta on the left-hand side who laid it back for Aaron Pierre to cross but Town didn’t have the numbers in the area to capitalise, and ultimately went in at the break a goal behind.
The second half began much like the first with Town on top, the men in blue and amber came out with a real purpose and nearly leveled first through Whalley who shot just wide, then Ollie Norburn looked to curl one into the far corner only to be tipped behind by Richards.
Udoh was the next man to try his hand at goal when the ball was played to him down the channel, he managed to force a corner which led to pinball in the Crewe box with the chance eventually falling to Ogbeta the fullback had his shot blocked from close range.
As the game closed out, Town were unable to break through to find an equaliser as the away side took home the win.
The teams:
Town: Matija Sarkic, Aaron Pierre, Ro-Shaun Williams (Rekeil Pyke, 89), Shaun Whalley, Ollie Norburn, Josh Vela, Ryan Sears (Josh Daniels, 57), Nathanael Ogbeta, Daniel Udoh (David Davis, 77), Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Harry Chapman.
Subs: Harry Burgoyne, Scott Golbourne, David Edwards, Sean Goss, Rekeil Pyke, Joshua Daniels, David Davis.
Alex: Dave Richards, Harry Pickering, Ryan Wintle, Daniel Powell (Stephen Walker, 77), Mikael Mandron (Chris Porter, 90), Oliver Finney (Tom Lowery, 77), Olly Lancaster, Owen Dale, Travis Johnson, Luke Murphy, Omar Beckles.
Subs: Will Jaaskelainen, Tom Lowery, Chris Porter, Charlie Kirk, Rio Adebisi, Stephen Walker, Andrew Evans.
Referee: Marc Edwards
Assistants: Steven Rushton and Steven Plane
Fourth Official: Conor Brown
Bookings:
Harry Pickering was the first player booked as Harry Pickering was penalised for a foul in the 11th minute on Dan Udoh.
Shaun Whalley was shown a yellow card in the 38th minute for preventing a counter-attack.
Omar Beckles was booked for a foul on Shaun Whalley in the 75th minute.
Harry Chapman was booked for preventing a counter-attack in the 76th minute.
Olly Lancashire was booked in the 85th minute for a late challenge on Whalley.
