Captain Luke Leahy spoke to the media following our heartbreaking loss to Plymouth.
Town hosted the League One leaders at Montgomery Waters Meadow still contending with a raft of injury problems with Dan Udoh, George Nurse, Tom Bayliss, Rekeil Pyke, Matt Pennington and Christian Saydee all in the treatment room.
On top of that, both Tom Flanagan and Ryan Bowman were suspended for the visit of Steven Schumacher's side.
With so few players available, Town named a bench consisting of just four subs - with youngsters Nana Owusu, Declan Hutchings and Travis Hernes joining goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne.
Nevertheless, Shrewsbury side put in an outstanding performance and deservedly took the lead through a wonderful Killian Phillips goal early in the second half.
Town restricted Plymouth to very few chances over the course of the 90 minutes.
But Joe Edwards levelled the score before the visitors snatched victory with a goal from Callum Wright in the sixth minute of added-on time.
And speaking post-match, Luke said he was immensely proud of his team mates.
ON THE PERFORMANCE:
"I'm proud to be captain of this team tonight.
"I've been proud to be captain all season but tonight was another level.
"The 11 players that have played tonight, the coaching staff, the manager, everyone - it was a real effort.
"Unfortunately, we have not come away with anything, but in the bigger picture, we have come away with an awful lot tonight."
ON PLAYING SO WELL AGAINST THE LEAGUE LEADERS:
"That is why they are top of the league, they grind out those results with last-minute winners.
"I know tonight everyone will look at Plymouth being top of the league.
"But tonight was about us and how proud everyone is to play for this football club.
"Even when we conceded the second goal, walking back to the kick-off, our fans were standing up clapping, and that shows that they have a team to be proud of tonight."
ON KILLIAN'S GOAL:
"It was a great finish. I was surprised he took it that early, I was thinking 'take another touch.'
"But he was in that position and he knew what was right and thankfully, it went into the top corner.
"I felt like we deserved it, especially in the first half we got into some good areas and we had them pinned back for a while.
"But they are top of the league and they are there for a reason. But like I said, tonight was all about us."
ON CONCEDING IN THE SIXTH MINUTE OF ADDED-ON TIME:
"It was tough (to take) at the time, walking off the pitch it was tough.
"But on reflection and looking back at the last 45 minutes of the game, I'm very proud to be captain of this football club tonight and proud to lead all the players out tonight.
"It was a massive shift, and I'm also proud for Kade Craig. It was some debut to come into in the circumstances.
"I'm proud of everyone, but especially him (Kade) tonight.
"To put that performance in at left back is a credit to him and how he trains and how he was ready and it showed tonight."
ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ACADEMY GRADUATES KADE CRAIG AND TOM BLOXHAM:
"He (Kade) trains how he plays. He is aggressive in training and puts tackles in and wins headers, so I had no worries about him being in that type of game.
"Even on the ball, there were a few passes early on that didn't affect him, and he carried on, and it's a credit to him.
"Also, Blocko (Tom Bloxham) as well. He is still a young boy but tonight he couldn't afford to be a young boy.
"We needed him to man up and especially tonight I thought he was magnificent."
ON THE PERFORMANCES OF ROB STREET AND KILLIAN PHILLIPS:
"They do it week in and week out. Streety runs and runs and runs and gets up the pitch and that's the same for Killian.
"But for Kade and Blocko, they put in a massive shift it's a credit for everyone at the football club, it's a credit to the academy, and it shows that they will get their chance."
ON THE LAST FOUR GAMES:
"The Gaffer won't allow us to stop, I think that showed that was his team tonight, and they put in a real shift.
"With four games to go, although we will be aching and bruised the season will be finished in a couple of weeks and we will all be itching for it to come again!
"Four games and we will keep on going."
