A Ronan Murray penalty three minutes after the break took Town's U18s to a 1-0 FA Youth Cup third round victory over Shrewsbury at a bitterly cold Portman Road. The Irish U18 international had won the spotkick himself when he was felled by visitors' keeper David Maguire had brought him down.

Town's Jack Ainsley, playing at centre-half, struck the game's first serious effort, a deflection causing the ball to curl away from keeper Maguire but the Shrewsbury man was able to claim.

Andre Gray hit a shot across the face of goal on 20 with the Blues having started slowly, their rhythm perhaps upset by the early injury to midfielder Luke Hyam, who was carried off with what appeared to be a knee problem.

The game became increasingly feisty and in the 28th minute referee Lee Betts showed Dean Taylor a yellow card for the latest in a series of poor challenges from Shrewsbury players.

Connor Wickham saw a shot deflect wide after a fine move down the Town right. From the corner, sub midfielder Billy Clark's volley was struck straight at the keeper.

Wickham again went close four minutes prior to the break, seizing on a loose ball and hitting a shot on the turn which scuffed the top of the crossbar.

Town had started slowly but had gradually taken control of the game as the half wore on.

The goal which would settle the game came three minutes after the break. Murray was sent through on goal, took the ball past Maguire, who upended him. Despite protests from Shrewsbury players, the referee had little choice. Murray took the kick himself and put the ball low to the keeper's right.

Shrewsbury continued to hold their own against a Town side which surrendered possession all too easily, while keeper Lewis Ward appeared hampered by an injury sustained in the first period and was unable to take goalkicks.

Chances at either end were rare with neither keeper involved again until the 63rd minute when Murray's effort was too close to Maguire.

Clark came close to putting the Blues two in front on 67 when through on goal but with little time to pick his spot. The midfielder stabbed the ball under the keeper but defender Harry Hooman was on hand to clear off the line.

William Richards headed over from a corner for the Shrews, then David Cawley shot over for Town, prior to Thomas Dix heading wide of the Town goal.

The Blues were by no means comfortable against their less heralded opponents and on 82 Shrewsbury came close to an equaliser. Aaron Gibson found himself in space on the left inside the area and only a desperate last ditch tackle from Jack Ainsley saw the ball over the bar, although referee Betts gave a goalkick.

The game continued to be somewhat niggly with one or two late tackles flying in from Shrewsbury players in particular. On 85 Shrewsbury's Dix reacted angrily to a Clark tackle, appearing to kick out at the Town player, who was similarly unimpressed. Both received yellow cards.

Wickham could have sealed the win in the 88th minute when sent through one-on-one by Murray, but Maguire was out to block. As the game moved into injury time, the England U16 cap sent Murray through on goal as the Shrews pushed forward but the Irishman was very wrongly flagged offside by the linesman.

In the closing moments the Blues had a miraculous escape when Eastman lost the ball in the centre of the field with several Town players committed forward. Gibson crossed towards the unmarked Gareth Partridge two yards out, but somehow the substitute scraped the ball over the bar.

Town just about deserved their win against a decent enough Shrewsbury side with 15-year-old striker Connor Wickham, goalscorer Ronan Murray and central defender Paul Watson probably the outstanding performers. However, on this evening's showing, the young Blues will have to improve significantly if they are to match the 2004/05 side and win the competition.

Town: Ward, Clemo, Dunbar (Meekings 90), Hyam (Clark 8), Watson, Ainsley, Lambe, Cawley (Eastman 86), Wickham, Murray, Daniels. Unused: Brandon, Griffiths.

Photo: Action Images

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