Boss Neil Hunt has high hopes for his Evesham United youngsters after a plucky display in tonight’s 3-0 FA Youth Cup defeat to Shrewsbury Town according to the Evesham Journal.

The first-round proper tie, played out in front of a crowd of 219, saw the Football League club’s youngsters show their class at times but the Robins coped admirably despite long spells without the ball.

Evesham might have led on 25 minutes when Ben Hunt skewed wide from close range after a flicked on free-kick dropped to him at the far post.

United scarcely left their own half for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes as Shrewsbury bossed possession, although the hosts kept a good shape.

Hunt’s rising volley cleared the crossbar on the stroke of half-time but would have boosted morale and Evesham were brighter after the interval.

Will Middleton’s corner was flicked across goal and narrowly wide of the far post in the 55th minute by Morgan Ballinger and again, the hard-working hosts paid the price moments later.

Nathan Taylor parried a driven shot but Reiss Corfield was on hand to steer in at the far post to all but end the contest.

Tyrone Ofori’s mazy run forced a point-blank stop from the Robins stopper but it was three on 70 minutes when Kian Taylor’s swinging cross was guided back across goal by Lifumpa Mwandwe’s header.

There were more chances for Shrewsbury as Evesham legs tired late on but Hunt was proud of his team’s sterling effort.

“I could not have asked any more of the lads, they worked very hard but you could see the difference with a full-time team against a group of lads who train once a week,” said Smith.

“We are so pleased with the effort and cannot knock any of them. They gave everything, kept their shape and limited the number of chances Shrewsbury had.

“The boys can take a lot from this experience. We had six 16-year-old lads out there, two of which came off the bench, and it was great to see more than 200 people turn up to see a team of local youngsters.”

“Overall, we have a pool of 35 players between the under-18s and under-21s. We try to mix and match to give the boys the best platform for the floodlit matches in midweek.

“We talk regularly with Colly (first-team manager Paul Collicutt) and send four or five of the boys to train with the senior side each week.

“Our wider ambition is to see some of them progress to play for Evesham United. Out of the 16 in the squad for this tie, nine are from Evesham and that is really important to us.”

Robins: N Taylor, Heywood, Middleton, Colman (Cavens, 80), Ballinger, Smith, Stalley (Healey, 80), Hunt, Clark, Lucas, Lewis (Whyley, 63). Unused subs: Vose, Goodwin.

Shrewsbury: Gregory, Agbozo, Walker (Leask, 66), Rowlands, Huntbach, Shelis, Corfield (Higgs, 77), K Taylor, Ofori (Davies, 66), Barnett, Mwandwe. Unused subs: Atkinson, B Taylor.

Attendance: 219.