Shrewsbury Town got their pre-season campaign up and running with an encouraging performance against West Brom.
In what was our first outing under new head coach Matt Taylor, Salop went toe-to-toe with their Championship opponents in a match that saw both Dan Udoh and George Nurse return to first team action after suffering ACL injuries last year.
Town's first half team saw Jason Sraha, Morgan Feeney and Tunmise Sobowale all wear blue and amber for the first time while academy graduate Travis Hernes started in central midfield.
In wet and windy conditions at Albion's training ground, the hosts took the lead in the ninth minute through Conor Townsend.
Town, though, grew into the half and they had a chance to pull level when Tom Bayliss and Jordan Shipley combined - with Shipley then seeing a cross-come-shot parried away by Alex Palmer.
An equaliser did arrive just past the 30-minute mark when Elliott Bennett did brilliantly to win the ball high before finding Jordan Shipley. He then sent in a dangerous low cross that Ryan Bowman calmy slotted past Alex Palmer.
Just before the break, though, Albion got themselves back in front when Jed Wallace stood up a cross which Adam Reach fired in.
Head coach Taylor made a number of changes at the break with both Udoh and Nurse making their eagerly anticipated returns. Elliot Thorpe made his debut while trialist Taylor Perry was also given a chance to impress.
The Baggies came close to grabbing a third early on when Darnell Furlong sent in a cross that Brandon Thomas-Asante turned against the post.
Michael Parker, Nana Owusu and Declan Hutchings then entered the fray to ensure that - along with Tom Bloxham and Hernes - Town had five academy gradates on the pitch.
Salop came close to pulling a goal back when the excellent Carl Winchester won the ball high before finding Bloxham. He then moved it onto Udoh who fired narrowly wide from 18-yards.
Jason Molumby grabbed a third for West Brom when he smashed in a cross from Matt Phillips.
Shrewsbury then came a whisker away from grabbing a second when Nurse cut the ball back for Perry who fired over from around 10-yards.
Shrewsbury first half: Marosi, Sraha, Flanagan, Feeney, Shipley, Hernes, Bennett, Bayliss, Sobowale, O'Brien, Bowman.
Shrewsbury second half: Burgoyne, Sraha (Parker 70), Feeney (Owusu 70), Sobowale (Hutchings 75), Nurse, Winchester, Perry, Hernes, Thorpe, Udoh, Bloxham.
