Chris Beesley with the Everton Under-21s player ratings from their 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, the new name for the EFL Trophy

Everton Under-21s suffered a second defeat in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy as they suffered stoppage-time heartbreak to lose 2-1 to League Two Shrewsbury Town.

With Shrewsbury making 10 changes from the side that started Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Rotherham United, Isaac Fletcher broke the deadlock to put the hosts ahead with a sweetly struck volley on 51 minutes.

And, although Everton substitute Omari Benjamin restored parity with a low finish from a tight angle on 84 minutes, the visitors were unable to clear their lines from a corner as Jeval Thompson-McKenzie fired in from close range to give the Shropshire outfit the three points.

And here how we rated the Blues...

Fraser Barnsley 5

Played 28 games on loan at Marine last season but looked a bit nervous at times here, spilling a Joseph Gdobe shot from which Jay Snook should have scored and having been beaten by Fletcher, he flapped at a cross soon afterwards and while he seemed to have redeemed himself with an acrobatic save to deny Jayden Olisaemeka Lukas Rattray in stoppage time, fellow substitute Thompson-McKenzie netted the winner from the resultant corner.

George Finney 6

Kept busy with his defensive duties, there was little scope to get forward but he remained steady enough.

Ezra Carrington 6

Former Manchester City man continues to fill in at left-back after his arrival earlier this season and as you’d expect by someone schooled there, he looks comfortable on the ball.

John Dodds 6

Read the game quite well and appeared solid when competing against some hardened lower division pros.

Luis Gardner 7

Captaining the visitors’ line-up, he went close early on with a powerfully struck shot that brought the best out of Sam Proctor and looked fairly assured alongside Dodds compared to Everton’s previous game in this competition when, with William Tamen alongside him, his side were hit for six by League One Stockport County’s second string.

Shea Pita 7

Lively, tenacious display and he did well to fashion a chance that Brookes should have done better with after robbing Lee Isaac of possession.

Melvin Matos 7

Full of running and devilment, he’s always keeping opponents on their toes with his determined runs on and off the ball.

Harvey Foster 7

Polished if unspectacular performance in the engine room as he continues to build on the promise he showed for David Moyes’ first team when given opportunities during pre-season.

Harry Brookes 5

Should have scored late in the first half with an inviting chance at the back post after being picked out by Shea Pita’s cross and was hooked shortly after Everton went behind.

Braiden Graham 7

Everton’s most lively spark for most of the night as per usual, he had a couple of opportunities to score in the first half when cutting inside from the left but couldn’t find a breakthrough on this occasion.

Ceiran Loney 6

Puts in the hard yards when leading the line but there weren’t many clearcut opportunities for him to find the net.

SUBS

Callum Bates (on 56 for Brookes) 7

Some nice touches after his introduction as he passed the ball well.

Omari Benjamin (on 67 for Pita) 8

Coolly taken right-foot finish from an angle to equalise for Everton late on, he was a constant threat against Shrewsbury’s tiring defence.

William Tamen (on 76 for Gardner) 5

Late cameo at centre-back.

Joshua Van Schoor (on 76 for Carrington) 6

Ditto at left-back.