Central League Cup: Shrewsbury 4 Burton 3 - Report
Lee Angol provided Shrewsbury boss Sam Ricketts a timely reminder of his finishing prowess by netting a fine hat-trick in an entertaining 4-3 Central League Cup win over Burton.
The summer signing from Mansfield’s treble inspired Shrewsbury to twice come from behind against the Brewers at Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Angol, whose has four goals in competitive fixtures this season, has not featured in a League One squad for Shrews since being hauled off early in the defeat at Oxford on October 27.
Returning favourite Shaun Whalley grabbed Town’s fourth with a stunning free-kick to seal the win.
Town’s third win from three group games eased them into the next round of the development competition.
Goalkeeper coach Danny Coyne oversaw the game with academy boss Eric Ramsay in the crowd alongside other Shrewsbury youth development coaches, who were tracking the progress of the club’s youngsters.
Whalley, returning from six-and-a-half weeks out with a calf problem, started for the first time on his comeback from injury.
Young players given a run-out from the off were promising diminutive central midfielder James Rowland, goalkeeper Cameron Gregory and Ryan Sears, who was at centre-half.
Town went into the clash with an unblemished Central League Cup record having registered 3-0 victories against youthful Bristol Rovers and Walsall outfits.
Burton’s side contained first-teamers recovering from injuries, a few of which featured in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat on Ricketts’ League One debut at the Pirelli stadium.
Town looked like they were in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Doug Loft and Rowland behind Whalley, Charlie Colkett and Abo Eisa in midfield.
Brewers midfielder Joe Sbarra sent an early effort just over the top before Sears headed just over and Rowland sliced wide from the edge of the box.
A bewildering decision to award a penalty as Marcus Harness jumped into Sears before hitting the deck handed Burton a chance on 19 minutes and Harness - who came on to help create Albion’s winner on Saturday - converted into the corner.
A couple of Colkett passes caught the eye before he curled a free-kick over the top and Gregory’s strong hand kept out Harness’s set-piece.
Town levelled just after half hour as Eisa sprinted the length of Burton’s half before his low cross was prodded in by Angol.
Angol should’ve put Town ahead before the break after neat Whalley and Rowland interplay but fluffed his lines before keeper Callum Hawkins denied Eisa and Whalley.
Former AFC Telford man Hodge finished off a breakaway just before half-time as his finish unfortunately deflected in off Sears.
Town were undeterred by the late first half blow and levelled in impressive style. Another delightful through ball from Colkett sent Angol clear and he dinked a lovely finish over Hawkins 10 minutes after the restart.
Ten minutes later he was at it again. This time Rowland’s pass played former Peterborough man Angol in on the left side of the box and he lifted another sumptuous finish over the keeper.
The returning Whalley capped his busy display with a fiercely struck 25 yard free-kick whistled into the top left corner.
Burton, watched by Nigel Clough, were not quite done as Harness scored a fine second drilling in low from distance after a clever turn but Salop held on.
Teams
Shrewsbury Town (4-2-3-1):
Gregory; Emmanuel, Kennedy, Sears, Haynes (Ward, 88); Rowland (Turner, 72), Loft (Shelis, 89); Whalley, Colkett, Eisa; Angol.
Subs not used: Agius (gk), Davies.
Burton Albion:
Hawkins (Livesay, 70), Gilligan (Lal, 81), Turner (Ganley, 62), McCrory, Armitage; Hodge, Wallace, Fox (Clamp, 70), Harness; Hewlett (Beardsley, 81), Sbarra.
Referee: Richard Cattell
