Shrewsbury Town’s youngsters bowed out of the FA Youth Cup at the Prostar Stadium – but not before giving Premier League Hull City an almighty fright.

The cruel nature of knockout football was laid bare last night as Town dominated this entertaining third round clash.

But two breakaway goals condemned the hosts to a galling exit on a night when they thoroughly deserved to progress to the last 32.

Once again, Dave Hughes’ side treated a crowd of 245 to a glimpse of the eye-catching and innovative attacking football which has become a feature of the youngsters’ campaign.

It took a little while for Town to find their feet and Hull had created the clearer opportunities by the time they took the lead on 30 minutes.

Shrewsbury failed to deal with a free-kick from Danny Emerton when it was headed back across the face of goal, and dangerman Mark Cullen was on hand to head home.

But that opener proved the signal for Hull’s goal to come under sustained assault from the home side.

By half-time, Shrewsbury should have been level at the very least.

During a 13 minute spell in the run-up to the interval, Jon Taylor, Tom Bradshaw and the excellent Will Richards all came within a whisker of an equaliser, while Luke Male headed inches wide at the back post.

And the Town domination continued after the break as edge of the box efforts from Tom Dix, Aaron Lloyd and Taylor all flashed by a Hull goal which lived an increasingly charmed life.

Genuine

A Male header then forced visiting goalkeeper Billy Ward into an excellent one-handed save before Hull provided a sickening blow to the Town youngsters as they doubled the advantage from their first genuine attack of the second half.

The 76th minute clincher oozed quality as Cullen picked the ball up on the edge of the box and cut inside before rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner – but it was so harsh on the hosts.

Still Shrewsbury continued to knock on the door and Richards grabbed a consolation when he stabbed home in a goalmouth scramble from a Taylor corner in the final minute. But it was sadly too little, too late.