Pre-season friendly finishes goalless at the Greenhous Meadow
Shrewsbury Town’s final home friendly of pre-season finished goalless against Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.Town had the better of the chances in the 90 minutes with James Collins’ header against the post in the first half being the best of them.
But there was no breakthrough for either side despite both having a goal ruled out for offside.
Town boss Micky Mellon named new signing Andy Mangan among his substitutes for the match.
And it was Mellon’s side who made a fast start, threatening to take an early lead when Jermaine Grandison’s cross from the right just fizzed past the head of Ashley Vincent at the near post inside two minutes.
Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro then cut in from the left and rolled the ball back to Ashley Vincent, who in turn found Scott Vernon before the striker struck wide of the right post from the edge of the box.
At the other end, Ross Barbour’s cross from the right found Josh Magenna free inside the penalty area, but the striker misfired and over the crossbar.
New Town signing Mangan made his debut much sooner than expected as Akpa Akpro was brought off with a possible injury after 18 minutes.
Nathaniel Knight-Percival then picked out Vernon with a through ball on the inside left, but the striker hit low into the goalkeeper’s hands at the near post.
And Mellon’s side were inches away from taking the lead when James Wesolowski floated in a cross from the left of the area and Collins, who attacked the ball first, headed back off the right post in the 35th minute.
Half-time: Town 0-0 Kilmarnock
The second period started much quieter than the first, with both managers opting to bring on changes from the bench.
Town substitute Cameron Gayle momentarily broke onto James Caton’s through ball at one point but was unable pull his cross back far enough.
At the other end, a fierce strike from Rory McKenzie was parried away by Jayson Leutwiler but followed up by Magenna, who then scored but was offside.
Ryan Woods also had the ball in the net for Town at the other end when played through by substitute Andy Robinson to finish, but the flag was already up.
Chances were few and far between, though, despite one falling to Caton when cut in from the right as the ball broke to him, but his low strike deflected behind for a corner.
Town face two more friendlies before Sky Bet League 2 kicks off on August 9, starting at Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday 29 July before a trip to Altrincham on August 1.
Full-time: Town 0-0 Kilmarnock
TOWN LINE-UP: Leutwiler, Grandison, Knight-Percival, Woods, Ellis, Goldson, Vincent, Wesolowski, Collins, Vernon, Akpa Akpro.
SUBS: Smith, Burton, Demetriou, Caton, Wildig, Robinson, Clark, Magan.
KILMARNOCK LINE-UP: Samson, Barbour, Hamill, Connolly, McKenzie, Miller, Johnston, Slater, O’Hera, Magenna, Pascali.
SUBS: Trialist, Cairney, Trialist, Obadeye, Ashcroft, Davidson, Kiltic, Muirhead, Thomson, Trialist.
ATTENDANCE: 1,683 (101 Kilmarnock)