Match Report | Shrewsbury 3-2 Villa XI

A brace from Josh Davison and a sensational Isaac Fletcher strike saw Town close out pre-season with a 3-2 win over a Villa XI at the Croud Meadow.

Gavin Cowan's side have played seven friendlies ahead of the 2026/27 campaign - with the competitive action getting underway next weekend.

And the last friendly of the summer ended in a deserved win with Josh Davison scoring a brilliant first-half brace to put Salop on track for victory.

Villa did level the scores through an own-goal and Ben Broggio.

But Town were comfortably the better side and got a deserved winner through a sensational Fletcher strike - with the midfielder finding the net with an unstoppable effort from 25 yards.

Team news:

Boss Cowan opted for a 3-5-2 formation for Town's final friendly of the summer.

It saw Sam Proctor start against his parent club in goal with Isaac Lee, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels making up the back three.

Arkell Jude-Boyd and Kevin Berkoe got the nod at wing-back with Will Gray, Tom Sang and Jay Turner-Cooke the midfield three.

Up front, Josh Davison and George Lloyd the front two.

Villa's XI consisted of a host of the club's top young talents including former Salop loanne Tommi O'Reilly.

They also included Jamaldeen Jimoh-Junior and Samuel Iling-Junior who both featured for West Brom in the Championship.

Report:

Shrewsbury Town made a flying start at the Croud Meadow and fashioned their first opportunity inside the opening three minutes.

Davison sparked the move with a clever pass that released Lloyd down the right. Lloyd's low cross found Sang in stride, but his goal-bound effort was well blocked.

Town's bright opening was rewarded in the eighth minute.

Jude-Boyd delivered an inviting cross that Lloyd met with a superb header. Goalkeeper Blade Earley produced an outstanding save to deny him, but Davison was quickest to react, nodding home the rebound to score his first goal for Salop.

Seven minutes later, the striker doubled both his tally and Town's advantage.

Sang produced an excellent delivery from the right and Davison rose highest to power a magnificent header beyond Earley and into the net.

Salop continued to threaten, with Sang coming within inches of adding a third when his free-kick drifted narrowly wide.

Villa, however, were handed a route back into the contest in unfortunate circumstances. Boyle's backpass towards Proctor caught the goalkeeper out, with the ball slipping under his foot and rolling into the net for an own goal.

The visitors had another chance shortly past the half-hour mark when a ball over the top got Ben Broggio charging towards goal.

He was able to go around Proctor but was forced wide enough to ensure he fired into the side-netting.

Town responded positively to Villa's goal, with Berkoe delivering an inviting cross that Arkell Jude-Boyd met with a firm header, only for Earley to make another smart save.

At the other end, Proctor produced an excellent stop with his feet to deny Jimoh-Aloba after the winger had driven purposefully into the penalty area.

The visitors created the first clear opportunity after the restart when Iling-Junior controlled an intelligent cross-field pass with a superb first touch to send himself through on goal.

Proctor stood tall, though, making himself big to produce an outstanding block.

Villa did equalise in the 54th minute. Broggio collected the ball inside the area before curling a composed finish beyond Proctor to level the scores.

Town were almost back in front instantly with Ruffels seeing a goal-bound strike blocked following a corner.

Then from another set-piece, Boyle saw a header claimed by Earley.

Salop were doing everything they could to win it - with Sang collecting a cross from Berkoe before firing inches wide.

Town then threatened again when Sang's free-kick was nodded across goal and into the danger area by Boyle.

And Gbode was millimetres away from connecting - with the striker throwing himself at the ball but just unable to connect.

Seconds later and Town were back in front - in spectacular fashion.

Fletcher collected the ball 25 yards from goal. And he then produced a strike of the highest quality which curled against the inside of the post before nestling into the net.

And it could have been four before the end - with Earley making an excellent save to keep out a fierce strike from Isaac England.

Teams:

Shrewsbury: Proctor, Lee (Anderson 61), Boyle, Ruffels, Jude-Boyd, Gray (Fletcher 71), Sang, Turner-Cooke (England 61), Berkoe, Lloyd (Thomspon-McKenzie 87), Davison (Gbode 61).

Subs not used: Brook, Hall, Pendleton, Thompson-McKenzie.

Villa: Earley, Johnson (Feeney 63), Taylor, Fortes, Burgess, Borland, O'Reilly, Jimoh-Aloba, Wilson, Broggio, Illing-Junior.