Pre-season: Bristol City 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report
Shrewsbury Town’s new-look squad impressed as they held Championship side Bristol City to a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate.
John Askey’s men equalised through last season’s top scorer Stefan Payne 17 minutes into the friendly, five minutes after Callum O’Dowda put the hosts ahead.
The fixture was the first in which Town fans could see Askey’s newly-assembled troops.
The boss named new signings Aaron Amadi-Holloway on the bench in a squad that including three trialists at Ashton Gate.
Two trialists began the match, with former Stevenage and Forest Green shot-stopper Steve Arnold in goal and ex-Port Vale midfielder Doug Loft partnering Jon Nolan in the middle.
Fellow goalkeeper Ben Wilson was including among 12 Shrewsbury subs.
Town, playing in their new black third kit and roared on by 50 supporters, carved out the first opening and it was a beauty.
Payne, playing on the left, won the ball in his own third, and Town broke at speed through Shaun Whalley and Jon Nolan. The latter lifted a left-footed strike over.
Skipper Mat Sadler produced a fine block to keep out a strike from distance before lively City man O’Dowda found Arnold’s bottom corner with a weak shot from outside the box after 12 minutes.
Five minutes later the visitors were level. After breaking from their own right-back position, Payne held the ball up well and combined with Lenell John-Lewis before his crisp finish found the corner.
City’s Jamie Paterson just missed a tap in before curling a shot at Arnold.
Whalley was lively and tested home shot-stopper from distance on a couple of occasions in the first period.
The hosts edged the first half hour but Askey’s men improved towards the end of the first half and were causing problems.
Omar Beckles for Sadler was the only change at the break with a view to wholesale changes on the hour mark. Toto Nsiala took the captain’s armband.
The early stages of the second period lacked the opportunities of the first. Town threatened from set pieces as Nsiala nodded across goal before Beckles header over the top.
Arnold made one more save, parrying to his left, before the changes arrived.
On came Wilson in goal, Amadi-Holloway, Abo Eisa, Gilliead, Arthur Gnahoua, Luke Hendrie, Kieran Kennedy, Bryn Morris, Fejiri Okenabirhie and youngster Ryan Barnett.
City almost took advantage of the wave of changes as centre-half Adam Webster strode forward and cracked a 25-yard effort against the outside of the post.
Amadi-Holloway gave a snapshot of what he brings to Town as he powered a header from a corner, which was blocked. And showed smart touches and hold-up play.
Wilson survived a nervy moment in goal as he dropped a routine free-kick delivery.
Gilliead, signed from Newcastle, showed his direct intent on the right flank. Winger Gnahoua filled in at left-back.
Amadi-Holloway could have marked his blue and amber bow with a late winner but his swivel and shot after Morris’ pull-back lacked direction as the visitors looked the better side late on.
Teams:
Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2):
Arnold (trialist); Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler (c) (Beckles, 45), Haynes; Whalley, Nolan, Loft (trialist), Jones; Payne, John-Lewis.
Subs: Wilson (GK, trialist), Kennedy, Okenabirhie, Hendrie, Gilliead, Morris, Eisa, Amadi-Holloway, Barnett, Gnahoua, Sears.
Shrewsbury Town after 60 minutes:
Wilson (trialist); Hendrie, Kennedy, Beckles, Gnahoua; Gilliead, Barnett, Morris, Eisa; Amadi-Holloway, Okenabirhie.
Referee: Kevin Friend
