Hull City progressed through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup Sponsored by E.ON with a 2-1 win at Shrewsbury Town on Monday night.
Mark Cullen scored a goal in each half to seal his side's passage, although City were made to work hard for the victory and the home side pulled a goal back late on to set up a nervy finish for Billy Russell's side.
The Tigers missed a great chance after only five minutes. Joe Fox chested the ball into the path of Conor Townend who burst into the box. But with only the goalkeeper to beat, the midfielder blasted the ball over the bar.
Shrewsbury then had their first chance when Sonny Bradley's error let Tom Bradshaw in, but he too fired high over the bar.
A lack of communication between Shrews keeper Hakan Duyan and one of his defenders almost gave Mark Cullen a chance on 15 minutes, but he couldn't quite adjust quickly enough to take advantage.
Gavan Holohan's free kick brought a good save out of Duyan as City continued to look the better side.
The first goal of the game came on the half hour. Danny Emerton's free kick to the back post was headed back across goal for Cullen to head home from close range.
The home side responded with a good run from Jon Taylor, but he fired high and wide from 20 yards before Billy Ward saved comfortably from Bradshaw.
Shrewsbury were enjoying their best spell so far and Will Richards was the next to fire over from long range.
Luke Male missed a good chance on 37 minutes, heading Taylor's cross wide when unmarked at the far post.
City then had a good chance themselves when a free kick was nodded into the path of Bradley, but his weak volley went straight to Duyan.
It was end-to-end stuff and Aaron Lloyd was unlucky to see his header land on the roof of the net for the Shrews.
Half Time: Tigers 1-0 Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury started the second half brightly and Tom Dix shot inches wide of Ward's goal from 20 yards.
Lee Wright then produced a well-timed tackle to prevent Bradshaw from getting a shot in on goal.
Wright was in action at the other end moments later, firing high and wide after the home side had failed to clear a corner.
Shrewsbury went close again when Taylor was set free down the right, but his shot across the face of goal went wide.
Conor Townend was booked on 70 minutes before Ward produced an excellent save seconds later to tip over Male's header.
City sealed the win in the 77th minute as they hit their opponents on the break. Townend timed his pass to Cullen perfectly and the striker cut inside before curling a superb left-footed shot into the net via the underside of the bar.
The Tigers almost extended their lead three minutes later when Joe Fox met Townend's free kick, but his header went just wide.
Shrewsbury kept going to the end and were only denied a goal by another good save from Ward. They did get a goal back as the game went into added time, Richards tapping in on the line after City had failed to clear a corner.
Substitute Ray Ford was booked in added time for preventing the home side from taking a quick free kick.
Tigers: Billy Ward, Lee Wright, Dean Deagle, Joe Cooper, Sonny Bradley, Danny Wilkinson (Tom Bennett 69), Danny Emerton, Gavan Holohan, Mark Cullen, Joe Fox (Ray Ford 89), Conor Townend.
Subs Not Used: Joe Cracknell, Richard Overment, Joel Shortland.
Shrewsbury: Hakan Duyan, Danny Taylor, Josh Evans, Will Richards, Connor Goldson, Scott Keyes, Luke Male (Ashley Wells 82), Tom Dix, Aaron Lloyd (Gareth Partridge 69), Tom Bradshaw, Jon Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Charles Steward, Wayne Farmer, Iain Edmunds.
