Shrewsbury 2 Brentford 3 - Report

The Bees twice took the lead in the first half through Marcus Forss and a Toto Nsiala own-goal

But each time Salop pulled themselves level with strikers Fejiri Okenabirhie and Aaron Amandi-Holloway both on target.

Brentford though showed their championship class throughout and they secured what was a deserved victory when Emiliano Marcondes netted late on.

Town boss John Askey will have learnt a lot from the exercise though, with Alex Gilliead and Okenabirhie the standout players for his side.

Shrewsbury announced just hours before kick-off they had signed Chelsea midfielder Charlie Colkett on loan until the end of the season.

But the youngster wasn’t involved for the clash against the Bees, instead there was a first outing on home turf for new recruits Stephen Arnold, Ryan Haynes, Alex Gilliead, Aaron Amandi-Holloway and Fejiri Okanabirhie.

There was also a start for trailist Doug Loft who previously played in the friendlies against Kidderminster, Bristol City and Burnley.

A trialist goalkeeper was also named amongst the substitutes.

Brentford included former Town star Ryan Woods in their starting line-up with the midfielder instrumental in helping Shrewsbury win promotion to League One back in 2015.

In what was a lively start, both teams found the net inside the opening 15 minutes – albeit with goals that should have been prevented.

It was Brentford who took the lead after Bryn Morris carelessly lost possession in his own half to Sergi Canos.

The Spaniard then slipped in Forss who produced a smart finish to drill the ball past Stephen Arnold from 12-yards.

Shrewsbury pulled level straight from the re-start with the ball worked back to Arnold who sent it forward route-one.

And Brentford’s defence failed to deal it with Okenabirhie then entering the box and lashing a fierce strike into the net.

Smith’s side were showing their class though with their movement and intricate passing ensuring they were seeing a lot of the ball in and around the Shrewsbury box.

And they re-took the lead midway through the half when Forss headed a corner against the post only for the ball to then bounce off Nsiaia and into the net.

By and large the game very much had a friendly feel with Shrewsbury still trying to find their rhythm.

Town though did look bright in spells – especially when they got Gilliead on the ball.

And the winger almost pulled his side level before half-time when he whistled a strike inches wide from just outside the box.

Askey made one change at the interval with the trialists goalkeeper replacing Arnold. But he also pushed Jon Nolan further forward with Salop switching from a 4-3-3 system to a 4-2-3-1.

And they started the half well with Gilliead turning smartly on the edge of the box before hitting a curling effort which a diving Luke Daniels did well to tip away.

From the resultant corner though Shrewsbury did pull level with Amandi-Holloway powering in a header from six-yards.

Despite his side having improved, Askey made a raft of changes just before the hour mark with Mat Sadler, Stefan Payne, Sam Jones and Lenell John-Lewis replacing Amandi-Holloway, Nsiala, Okenabirhie and Nolan.

But the changes did disrupt their tempo with the Bees getting themselves back on top.

And they almost re-took the lead when Romaine Sawyers slipped in Canos but his low strike was stopped by the trialist keeper.

Just past the 80 minute mark though, Brentford got the winning goal their performance had deserved.

It arrived after sub Ali Coote did well to cut the ball back on the byline and there waiting for a simple tap in was Emiliano Marcondes who made no mistake from close range.

Shrewsbury (4-3-3): Arnold (Trialist 46), Bolton (Hendrie 68), Nsiala (Kennedy 78), Beckles (Sadler 58), Haynes, Gilliead (Eisa 75), Nolan (Jones 58), Morris, Loft, Amandi-Holloway (Payne 58), Okenabirhie (John-Lewis 58).

Brentford: Daniels, Clarke, Field, Woods, Racic (Titov 78), Barbet, Canos, Sawyers (Coote 78), Forss (Edobor 78), Marcondes, Ogbene.