Newcastle's hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of this season's Leasing.Com Trophy were ended by their League One hosts in Shropshire on Tuesday evening.

Making their debut at Montgomery Waters Meadow, United fell behind to a 22nd minute strike from Fejiri Okenabirhie before Jason Cummings doubled the lead with a header following a corner.

That second goal caused a reshuffle of the visiting side before half time; rookie midfielders Elliot Anderson and Joe White making way for defender Ludwig Francillette and winger Victor Fernandez.

Jamie Sterry was pushed from full back into midfield as he was at Hull last week, and having steadied matters, hopes of a fightback were raised when the orange-clad Magpies twice hit Town's goal frame after the break.

However, Tom Allan's 59th minute effort from close range and a Victor Fernandez strike from further out on 68 minutes were to be our best moments.

Shrewsbury captain Dave Edwards then turned in the area to bury his shot with three minutes of normal time left, giving the final scoreline a slightly-lopsided look.

The home side made eight changes to the starting XI that won 1-0 at Tranmere Rovers in the league last weekend but never looked in serious danger of not winning this tie: our lack of firepower meaning that some dangerous first half crosses weren't fully exploited. 

Following defeat in our opening game at Macclesfield Town however, Neil Redfearn's side now only have pride to play for when they visit Port Vale next month for their third and final Group Stage tie.

PS: This was the first visit to Shrewsbury by a Magpies side since a Pontins League fixture at Town's former Gay Meadow home back in August 1998.

Gay Meadow was almost completely obliterated, with only the back wall of the Cecil Duffill Terrace spared from demolition in 2007. That's part of a residential development named The Old Meadow.

Biffa & Niall