Everton U21s came close to rescuing a point at Croud Meadow, but Shrewsbury Town struck in added time to leave the visitors empty-handed in the EFL Trophy. Omari Benjamin brought Everton back level in the 84th minute, yet the late winner meant Shrewsbury came out on top in a match that mattered for the Group E standings in the Northern section.
The result came after a tight first half, with neither side able to break through before the interval. Everton then fell behind soon after the restart, but Benjamin's finish gave them a route back into the game. For a brief stretch, it looked as though the U21 side might take something useful from a difficult away trip.
Instead, the decisive blow arrived in the 90+4th minute. That turned what had been a competitive contest into another setback for Everton U21s, who had entered the match rock bottom of Group E. Shrewsbury Town were also bottom of the group before kickoff, so the match carried added weight for both sides.
What it means for Group E
The standings situation was already clear in one key respect: Stockport County had secured the group with two wins and one game to play. Before this match, Stockport had beaten Everton U21s 6-3 in August, while Shrewsbury had lost to both Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County without scoring a goal.
That left Everton U21s and Shrewsbury Town fighting for position behind the group winners, with Everton's third group game due toward the end of next month at Tranmere Rovers. The route to the Round of 32 is still alive, but the margin for error has narrowed after this latest defeat.
The EFL Trophy continues to give Category 1 Academy U21 sides a chance to test themselves against League One and League Two opposition, and this one showed how quickly a game can turn in the final minutes. Everton U21s had the equalizer, but Shrewsbury had the last word.
