NEW BOY CLARK IS DOUBLE TROUBLE
SHREWSBURY boss Micky Mellon was full of praise for youngster Jordan Clark after he scored his first Football League goals during the win over Luton Town.
The 20-year-old, who signed on a free transfer in the summer, broke the deadlock after just three minutes and then added a second from a free-kick after the break.
Mellon said: “I wasn’t aware it was his first league goals, I’ve said it before, he’s a terrific talent.
“What’s so pleasing is that he’s an example to all young players, how hard he works. He’s probably the first on the training pitch and the last one off it.
“He loves his football and has grabbed his chance and there’s nobody more delighted than me.
“The first goal we’ve worked on it in training during the week and for the lads to execute it the way they did, they should be very proud.
“It’s good that the players keep their standards high and make sure they keep turning out these results.”
Meanwhile, Hatters boss John Still admitted his side were second best throughout the game, adding: “We were outplayed, we conceded a goal too early again.
“From last week that’s really disappointing. It was a good goal, but we’ve got to defend that better.
“I thought for the next halfhour we were chasing, got back into the game and in the second half we may be able to push on a little bit, but they were better than us.” After Clark had escaped the Hatters’ defence to put Shrews ahead, Still replaced Luke Rooney on just 13 minutes for Alex Lacey, switching to a 3-5-2 formation.
The hosts kept probing as James Collins curled straight at Mark Tyler and then scuffed at the keeper. Visiting striker Mark Cullen then broke clear but his cross was cut out, and Matt Robinson tested keeper Jayson Leutwiler.
James Collins glanced a cross just wide and in the second period, Jermaine Grandison reached Cullen’s cross ahead of Paul Benson.
Hatters were indebted to a stunning save from Tyler to somehow claw out Collins’ pointblank header as Still took off Cullen for Ross Lafayette.
Scott Vernon then glanced off target, while Luton’s efforts at rescuing a point were hit when Luke Guttridge had to go off.
It looked like game over on 70 minutes though as Shrews won a free-kick that was swung in by Clark and went through Tyler’s hands before hitting the net.
The Luton stopper appealed for a foul by Collins, but the goal stood and there was little way back for the visitors.
It could have got worse too as Vernon volleyed against the bar from a yard out and then headed the rebound over.
Luton were reduced to ten men with eight minutes to go as Matt Robinson was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Cameron Gayle.
Substitute Jean-Louis Akpa Akrpo waltzed through and saw his drive repelled by Tyler, late on while Andy Robinson also blasted over the crossbar.