Stafford Rangers 0-0 Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town's first friendly of the summer ended in a goalless draw at Stafford Rangers.

Manager Gavin Cowan got minutes into the legs of the vast majority of his squad - with the boss opting to field different XI's in each half.

On another day, Salop would have left Staffordshire with a win.

Tom Sang, Will Boyle and Jay Turner-Cooke all went close to earning what would have been a deserved win.

But the hosts did enough to hold on for the draw.

Team news:

Gavin Cowan opted for 3-4-1-2 formation for the first-half at Marston Road with Will Brook starting in goal.

Isaac Lee, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels made up the back three with Arkell Jude-Boyd at right wing-back and Byron Pendleton on the left.

Tom Sang and Isaac England sat in midfield with Isaac Fletcher more advanced in the number 10 role.

Up front, George Lloyd was partnered by recent arrival Joe Gbode.

Report:

It was Town who flew out the blocks in Staffordshire with the Cowan's men immediately putting the hosts under pressure.

Inside the opening few minutes, a dangerous corner caused havoc in Stafford's box with the hosts just doing enough to scramble the ball away.

Jude-Boyd then whipped in a dangerous cross that Rangers had to deal with before Sang saw a shot inside the area well blocked by a defender.

Town continued to apply pressure with Fletcher twisting and turning well on the edge of the box before seeing a shot claimed by keeper Leon Phillips.

Then just before the break, Salop created two more opportunities.

First, Sang whipped in a dangerous corner that Boyle headed over the bar.

Then just moments later, Jude-Boyd sent in a wonderfully inviting cross that Fletcher and Sang were inches away from turning home.

Cowan opted to switch the entire 11 at half-time with goalkeeping coach Harry Burgoyne getting a cameo between the sticks.

In a 4-3-3 system, Luca Hoole, Sam Stubbs, Tom Anderson and Kev Berkoe made up the back four.

In the middle of the park, Jack price operated as playmaker with Will Gray and Jay Turner-Cooke more advanced.

Josh Davison led the line in attack with a trialist on one flank and Jeval Thompson-McKenzie on the other.

It was Town's trialist who had the first big chance following the re-start.

The winger did really well to beat two men before letting fly with a powerful drive from the edge of the box that deflected wide.

Price then also saw an effort from distance sail off target.

The hosts created their first chance with around 20 minutes remaining - Burgoyne making a good save to keep out Joe Thompson's header from a corner.

Salop almost won it with around five minutes to go when Turner-Cooke did well to enter the box before firing agonisingly wide.

And Cowan's men continued to press for a winner from that point but the hosts defended well to ensure they remain unbeaten in the three pre-season games they have played so far.

Shrewsbury team first half: Brook, Lee, Boyle, Ruffels, Jude-Boyd, Sang, England, Pendleton, Fletcher, Lloyd, Gbode.

Shrewsbury team second half: Burgoyne, Hoole (Falding 71), Stubbs, Anderson, Berkoe, Price, Gray, Thompson-McKenzie, Trialist, Davison, Turner-Cooke.