Wrexham Youth 2
Shrewsbury Town U18 2
Football League Youth Alliance (North West Conference)

Match Report

Wrexham showed tremendous fighting qualities to come back from a two-goal deficit against their Shropshire rivals, dominating the match for long periods and even missing a second-half penalty as a brace of goals from Jake Bickerstaff secured a well-deserved point at Stansty.

The home side began brightly with midfielder Jack Thorn having a shot from a Matty Sargent free-kick well saved by Shrews’ keeper Keiran Boucher. Sargent was in the thick of the action once again as he blocked Boucher’s attempted clearance on 11 minutes only for Dylan Allshorn to be brought down in the ensuing scramble, the referee waving away Wrexham’s claims for a penalty.

Barely sixty seconds later the visitors took the lead with their first attack of note, Luke Ward powering home a header from a James Rowland corner. It was tough on the Young Reds but they stuck to their task and quickly responded with a Thorn snap shot that was charged down by Ward before centre-back Billy Beaumont sent a thunderous drive from the edge of the area just wide of the upright.

The midfield duo of Thorn and Sargent then repeated their free-kick routine with the former’s flick header flying across the face of the goal before Shrewsbury doubled their lead on 22 minutes; Ben Tinkley spilling the ball at the feet of Ryan Grosvenor who calmly slotted home from close range.

Undeterred, Wrexham continued to press forward with Allshorn capitalising on a slip from Kian Taylor only to see his fierce volley fly just over the crossbar. Dan Nolan’s charges were duly rewarded for their spirited first-half showing when Bickerstaff netted with a flick header from another excellent Sargent free-kick on 38 minutes.

The second period proved a far more cagey affair with chances at a premium. Ten minutes in Bickerstaff was brought down in the area and this time the referee pointed to the spot, Boucher producing a fine one-handed save to deny Sargent the equaliser. That save appeared pivotal but Bickerstaff popped up with the leveller four minutes from time when he latched on to Sargent’s through ball to make it 2-2.