Youth team pay the price

ATHLETIC lost 2-1 at Shrewsbury in the North-West Conference of the Puma Youth Alliance.

As in previous matches, they failed to take the chances they created and were punished for defensive blunders.

Athletic found themselves 2-0 down before Ryan Brooke halved the deficit with a terrific volley from just inside the penalty area.

They peppered the Shrews goal in the last 20 minutes with Chris Rowney striking the crossbar, Nathan Kilcourse denied by an upright and Leroy Thinthenah having his effort cleared off the line.

Athletic play Stockport at Chapel Road on Saturday (11am) and Burnley at the same venue in the quarter-finals of the Lancashire Cup on Monday (2pm).