Another defeat but pluses for Tangerines down south

defeat at the hands of East Fife it was important they got another run out.

Eleven days between games going into a league opener would not have been ideal and the half hour they got did them good.

Particularly as this was by far the most testing, physically and in terms of quality, of the friendlies this summer.

Although they spent most of last season fighting to avoid relegation, Shrewsbury looked a decent side. As they build up to their own league business starting, they were looking to keep play at a high tempo.

That made for an open and entertaining game, as did the constant noise coming from the away end of the ground that was housing just over 400 travelling fans.

The action got off to an explosive start and after just six minutes Louis Appere was brought down by home goalie Max O’Leary and picked himself up to confidently convert the penalty.

As well as Banks, incidentally, 20-year-old Appere did his chances of involvement in the coming months no harm with another impressive display and the same went for 19-year-old Logan Chalmers, who also started.

Unfortunately for Appere in this one, within two minutes the lead was cancelled out by a spot-kick at the other end, just as expertly put away by Fejiri Okenabirhie.

And it was the same player who would head home to give the his team victory in the second half.

They just about deserved it, though subs Nicky Clark and Lawrence Shankland both went close to levelling in the dying minutes.