Two late Shrewsbury Town goals moved them above Fleetwood in the North West Youth Alliance.
by Sam GillilandTwo late Shrewsbury Town goals moved them above Fleetwood in the North West Youth Alliance.
The visitors led through Jack Gwilliams first-half penalty, before Scott Ryan scored twice in the final five minutes of the match.
Shrewsbury started the game strongly and threatened to take the lead inside six minutes, when Gwilliams burst through on goal but was denied by brave goalkeeping from Oliver Martin, who dived on the ball at the forward’s feet.
The Shrews were then rewarded for their early pressure with a penalty in the 17th minute, as defender Dom Barrett brought down Gwilliams inside the area, who stepped up to hit the resulting spot-kick past Martin in goal.
Javia Roberts missed a glorious chance to make it two for the visitors seven minutes before the break, when he met Gwilliams low cross from the left, but scooped the ball over an open goal to the Cod Army’s relief.
Fleetwood’s best effort of the first half came from Jake Parker in the 45th minute, but the midfielder’s strike from range flew past the left post in a quiet first-half.
Shrewsbury saw the chance to double their lead go begging on 70 minutes when Ryan got in behind the home defence, but smashed his shot wide of the left post.
The young Cod Army pushed for an equaliser late on and came closest through Parker’s left foot effort from outside the box, but the game was put to bed in the 87th minute.
The Shrews Deion Evans came on as a substitute and crossed for Ryan to head past the Fleetwood keeper, before Ryan struck again in stoppage time with a low drive to end the Cods good run of form.
Fleetwood will host Wrexham next on 6 February in the quarter-final of the Northern Section Youth Alliance Cup. The game kicks off at 1pm at Lytham Cricket Club.
