Scholars draw with Arsenal in December friendly!

Our under-18s drew 1-1 away at Arsenal last Thursday!

The hosts controlled possession in the first half, but they could only muster up two chances.

Town, on the other hand, missed a wide range of opportunities.

After hitting the post from a corner, Jeval Thompson-McKenzie was denied by a last-ditch tackle and Haydn Lewis' long-range shot was brilliantly saved.

Harry Fallon was then denied twice by the Arsenal shot-stopper.

However, Arsenal's possession finally came good as they took the lead before the interval, leaving Town something to chase in the second period.

Our under-18s continued to create a wide range of chances after the break.

Thompson-McKenzie had three almost identical chances, two of which were saved and another narrowly missed the target.

Jay Snook and Simba Nyamwanza also came close, but it was substitute Kaysha Kameni who would draw the visitors level.

Jayden Valentine sent a long ball over the top that found Nyamwanza.

He delivered a low cross into the box that left the keeper in no man's land, and Kameni slotted home into an empty net.

And, if it weren't for another great save by the Arsenal keeper, the substitute could've had his and Town's second with a low drive from the edge of the box moments later.

Fallon also came close to securing the winner, but the goalkeeper dived at his feet to smother the chance.

Arsenal's only opportunity of the second half came in a similar fashion, with Zac Prior deflecting what should've been a tap-in over the bar.

With this, the friendly ended in a 1-1 draw, with Town putting in a very positive performance away at the Premier League club.

In their other December friendly, Town's under-18s travelled to face West Bromwich Albion's Under-17s.

A crazy game that finished 6-6 started incredibly fast as goals from Thompson-McKenzie, Snook and a Lewis brace - as well as two from the hosts - had Shrewsbury 4-2 up after half an hour.

The second half was just as open as the first and Town started to tire as West Brom brought on rolling substitutions.

With no substitutions to hand, Salop were reduced to 10 men and then nine as injuries to Thompson-McKenzie and Karsten Cairns saw their games come to an end.

Two goals for each side followed, taking the game to 6-4. Nyamwanza finished off a one-on-one chance for Town's fifth before a great solo run from Hugo Aiston made it six.

West Brom drew level with two quickfire goals, netting twice in 30 seconds to round off an incredibly eventful game at 6-6.