Reuben Hazell dealt Latics' Johnstone Paint Trophy hopes a blow after limping out of their first-round tie against Shrewsbury Town.

The central defender went down in stoppage time and after being treated by physio Marc Czuczman immediately left the field to be replaced by 18-year-old rookie Rod McDonald.

The only surprise was that the lively opening half failed to produce a goal as both teams had good goalscoring chances at Boundary Park where the under-16s certainly got good value for their free admission in the Leesfield Developments Rochdale Road Stnad.

Latics were lucky not to fall behind in the third minute when Shrewsbury striker Matt Harrold headed against the crossbar from a Steve Leslie corner.

Not long after, Latics would have taken the lead had Shrews keeper Chris Neal not made a fabulous fingertip save to keep out a goalbound header from Deane Smalley (pictured).

Latics went close again when Neal did well to keep out a goalbound free kick from Dale Stephens after Chris Taylor had been fouled 30 yards out.

And from the resulting corner from Stephens, Smalley stole in unmarked but headed over the crossbar when he perhaps ought to have done better.

Latics produced some slick passing moves, their only failing the lack of a cutting edge.

They were dealt a blow in stoppage time when captain Hazell imped off and was replaced by McDonald who was handed his first-team debut

Half-time: Latics 0, Shrewsbury 0