United had the long trip to Shrewsbury to contend with as they got back to league action on Friday afternoon.
But they came away feeling disappointed despite bagging a consolation goal courtesy of striker Belchior Papa.
Academy boss Darren Edmondson said: "I have to say, it was a great game of football. Belchior got us our goal in the first half but they took two good chances and had slightly the edge going into half time.
"The lads stuck at it after the break and we had two one-against-one situations which, on another day, could well have gone our way.
"On top of that we had good deliveries from set pieces, and from out wide, and we had three close-range headers which we also didn't quite manage to put away.
"I don't think anybody could have argued if we'd been 4-2 up with the chances we created. Their keeper came away as man-of-the-match so that also shows that we were playing the game in the right areas of the pitch.
"Their last goal left us feeling really disappointed because it went straight in from a corner.
"However, we're pleased with the tempo and the effort and, if we can find that ruthless streak, we won't be too far away."