Shrewsbury Town secure their first point of the season with a draw against Blackpool.

Town: Joel Coleman, Ryan Haynes, Mat Sadler, Shaun Whalley (Fejiri Okenabirhie, 83), Greg Docherty, James Bolton, Lenell John-Lewis (Aaron Amadi-Holloway, 88) Alex Gilliead, Luke Waterfall, Josh Laurent, Anthony Grant.

Subs: Steve Arnold, Omar Beckles, Lee Angol, Fejri Okenabirhie, Doug Loft, Aaron Amadi-Hollway, Ryan Barnett.

Blackpool: Mark Howard, Paudie O’Connor (Jordan Thompson, 67), Ben Heneghan, Nathan Delfouneso, Jay Spearing, Curtis Tilt, John O’Sullivan, Chris Taylor (Donervon Daniels, 45), Ollie Turton, Armand Gnanduillet, Joe Bunny.

Subs:  Donervon Daniels, Mark Cullen, Joe Dodoo, Harry Pritchard, Jordan Thompson, Fin Sinclair-Smith, Christoffer Mafoumbi.

Referee: Ollie Yates

Assistants: Mark Griffiths and Paul Hobday

Fourth official: Darren Wilding

Attendance: 5216 (357)

Shrewsbury Town secured their first point of the season against visiting Blackpool.

Askey’s men came very close to taking all three points, only to be denied by Blackpool goalkeeper Mark Howard’s strong performance

Team News:

John Askey makes only two changes for today’s line up against Blackpool. Anthony Grant and Mat Sadler replace Ollie Norburn and Omar Beckles in Askey’s starting 11.

 First Half:

Early on in the tie, Blackpool’s Chris Taylor was given a yellow card for a late challenge on Greg Docherty, as Town were advancing up the pitch.

The first 15 minutes of the game lacked any real goalmouth action. Both teams were still feeling out the opposition, but neither side could create any danger.   

Just four minutes later, Town had a golden opportunity to take the lead through Lennel John-Lewis. Some good midfield passing found Shaun Whalley in a perfect crossing position; he fired the ball low and hard across the area but John-Lewis couldn’t make a solid contact with the ball.

The game was starting to open up for Askey’s men as time went on. A good attacking flurry for Town saw Docherty on the edge of the box with half a yard of space. The midfielder let off a powerful shot but the Seasiders did well to get a player in the way.

Josh Laurent was the next Town player who went close to breaking the deadlock for the Shrews. Laurent found himself in space on the edge of the box and the midfielder let off a low shot, which looked destined for the corner. To Mark Howard’s relief, the ball zipped just past the post.

Brilliant link up play from Town’s attacking players was proving to be a big problem for the Seasiders defence. Great one touch passing once again opened up space in the box just five minutes before the end of the half. Whalley and John-Lewis combined well but the striker couldn’t get a shot on goal, due to the oncoming defender.

Just before the break Town had a free-kick on the edge of the box, which came inches away from giving Town the lead before half-time.  John-Lewis did well to latch onto the delivery but the powerful header was cleared off the line.

 Second Half:

Town came out for the second half with the same intent as the first. Similar to previous fixtures, Town’s wing play and passing was proving to be a problem for the Tangerines.

Ryan Haynes and Gilliead were giving Blackpool’s right back, Donervon Daniels a tough time on the left side. Smart movement from Town’s left back saw him in a great crossing position; Haynes floated a great ball into the box but the ball didn’t fall on a Town head and the ball was cleared well.

Town managed to put the ball over the line in the 71^st minute, but referee Ollie Yates disallowed the goal as he deemed John-Lewis to have handled the ball.

The game was becoming a tighter affair as the clock ran down.  Blackpool were throwing everything at Town’s back line but the defensive resolve remained strong.

Town came ever so close to getting the deserved goal in the 90^th minute, through Laurent. Amadi-Holloway did well to hold up the play and slipped Laurent through on goal. The centre midfielder let off a powerful shot but Howard made a brilliant save to keep his side in the tie.

The game ended with the scores level at the final whistle, with neither team able to take the lead.