The Saddlers were made to rue a slow start at Montgomery Waters Meadow as goals from Alex Gilliead and Doug Loft were enough to send Shrewsbury Town through to the next round of the Checkatrade Trophy.

In the opening five minutes there were headed chances for both sides. 

After three minutes, Kieran Kennedy had the home side's first chance as he headed just wide from a right-wing corner.

Two minutes later and some good footwork from Kieron Morris allowed him to curl a cross to the back post, only for Morgan Ferrier to glance his header wide. 

Moments before the home side took the lead, they could have gone ahead through Lenell John-Lewis. Kane Wilson scuffed his clearance right into the path of the striker only for his shot to then be cleared off the line by the right-back. 

Two minutes later and the home side took the lead through Gilliead. 

From another right-wing corner, Jon Guthrie headed it out to the edge of the box and the Town man controlled it and fired it into the bottom right corner.

A few minutes later and the Saddlers could have been further behind. Isaiah Osbourne was dispossessed on the edge of the area but Lee Angol could only drag his shot wide of the far post. 

In the second half it took until the 72nd minute for the game to receive any more action. Doug Loft was found on the edge of the box from a short corner and his effort found the top corner via a slight deflection.

With just shy of 15 minutes left to play, the Saddlers gave themselves a lifeline when Morris was picked out on the edge of the box by substitute Zeli Ismail and his effort found the top left corner. 

Unfortunately, Dean Keates’ men were unable to find the equaliser in the dying moments and the home side progressed into the next knockout round of the competition.