Owen Cushion’s penalty sealed a comeback win in the youth derby against Shrewsbury Town, as Wrexham came from 2-0 down to continue their excellent EFL Youth Alliance form.
Cushion kept his cool from the spot after Rio Owen and Keane Hazeldene had earlier cancelled out the hosts’ early two-goal lead.
There was defeat for Wrexham AFC Women’s Under-19s, however – their first in the league for nearly two years – as they suffered a 5-3 reverse against a strong Connah’s Quay Nomads side.
Shrewsbury Town 2-3 Wrexham AFC Youth
Owen Cushion scored from the spot to complete a comeback win away to Shrewsbury Town, as Wrexham AFC Youth claimed a fifth consecutive league win in the EFL Youth Alliance.
Cushion’s second-half penalty completed the comeback, after Rio Owen and Keane Hazeldene had already scored to cancel out a fast start and two early goals from the hosts.
Harvey Watts fired the hosts in front, with a low finish through Liam Hall on 18 minutes.
He doubled the lead ten minutes later – Jude Collins’ cross causing confusion in the Wrexham box for Watts to pounce and fire in.
Rio Owen pulled a goal back for Wrexham on 32 minutes, however, and the Red Dragons took the game to Shrewsbury after the break.
Keane Hazeldene levelled just three minutes after the restart, before Cushion had the chance to seal the comeback from the spot midway through the second half – and duly obliged.
The following day, a youthful Wrexham AFC side lost 3-0 to Flint Town in the FAW Youth Cup.
Connah’s Quay Nomads Women Under-19s 5-3 Wrexham AFC Women Under-19s
Anna Marsh scored her first goal for Wrexham AFC Women Under-19s, but the Red Dragons suffered their first league defeat in nearly two years in a high-scoring match away to Connah’s Quay.
Nomads’ first-team ace, Elana Harley – who was part of Wrexham’s title-winning Under-19s team in 2021/22 – scored a hat-trick for the hosts in an eight-goal thriller in Deeside.
Marsh opened the scoring on 17 minutes, but Harley levelled just three minutes later and then put Nomads in front in the 32nd minute.
Ava Suckley – currently serving a first-team suspension after her red card at Pontypridd United – brought Wrexham level again but Phoebe Ellis and Harley again helped to build a commanding lead at half-time.
Harley turned provider for Nomads’ fifth just after half-time – scored by Anais Bathily – although Lily Whitefoot reduced the deficit with still more than half an hour to play.
There was to be no further scoring, however, as Wrexham lost an Adran U19s North league game for the first time since October 8, 2021 – almost exactly two years ago.