Stunner puts out Walsall in Development Cup
A spectacular late free-kick condemned Walsall to a 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town in the Development League Northern Cup.
A goal from James Caton and a set-piece from a unnamed trialist secured the comeback win after the Shrews found themselves a goal down to a Levi Rowley strike at Lilleshall yesterday
The Saddlers started on the front foot and took the lead on 14 minutes when Jamie Smith chipped the ball over the defence to an on-rushing Rowley, who calmly slotted past namesake Shaun Rowley in the Shrewsbury goal. Town pulled level when Caton collected the ball on the edge of the box and hit a dipping shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Chances then came and went for before Shrewsbury's trialist, who the club wish to remain unnamed, grabbed the 89th-minute winner.
The central midfielder hit a sweet free-kick from the edge of the box which dipped into the top corner.
"We started the game brightly, a lot like last week," said reserve team manager Richard O'Kelly. "We deservedly went a goal up through Levi Rowley and could have added to our lead.
"As the game went on we couldn't push home our advantage.
"Our lads looked tired. These things happen at this stage of the season but the important thing is how you manage the situation and the work ethic cannot be faulted."
Shrewsbury: Shaun Rowley, Nathan Sheron, Ben Burton, Alex Fletcher, Callum Grogan, Trialist, Ryan Hickman, Niall Flint, Kaiman Anderson, James Caton, Josh Ginnelly.
Walsall: Craig MacGillivray, Jamie Smith, Lewis Probert, David Atkinson, Matt Preston, Jake Heath, Tevin Shakespeare, Reece Flanagan, Amadou Bakayoko, Jordan Murphy (c), Levi Rowley.
