Goals from Easthope and Atajic secure a point
Goals from young midfielder Dave Easthope and striker Bahrudin Atajic helped Town reserves collect a point from a 2-2 draw at Oldham Athletic in the Final Third Development League yesterday afternoon.
Town fielded a mixture of youth and experience with defensive trio Jermaine Grandison, Dave Winfield and Alex McQuade from the first team squad joined by on loan Celtic striker Atajic.
Newly-signed young pros Callum Burton and Dominic Smith also featured alongside a number of the club's scholars.
For some of them it was a quick return to Oldham's Chapel Road pitch having played there for the Town youth team in a 3-0 defeat last weekend.
Oldham took an early lead but Town were soon back on level terms when Easthope fired home from a short corner routine.
Town took the lead in the 58th minute when Bosnian under-21 international striker Atajic claimed his first goal in a Shrewsbury shirt.
Atajic converted a penalty after being brought down.
Town, watched by manager Mike Jackson, then created chances to move further ahead but the Oldham keeper pulled off some good saves, the pick of them to divert a powerful Josh Ginnelly volley over the bar.
Oldham earned a point three minutes from time when a home striker reacted quickest to knock in the rebound after keeper Burton did well to tip a free kick onto a post.
Town reserves are quickly back in action when they take on Tranmere Rovers at Lilleshall on Tuesday afternoon (1pm).
The game has been switched to Lilleshall to protect the Greenhous Meadow pitch ahead of the home matches against Bristol City and Crawley Town.
TOWN: Callum Burton, Dominic Smith, Jermaine Grandison, Dave Winfield, Alex McQuade, Josh Ginnelly (Jack Richards 81), Niall Flint, Dave Easthope, Alex Fletcher, Bahrudin Atajic, Kaiman Anderson. Unused subs: George Carpenter, Ryan Hickman, Sam Molyneux, Shaun Rowley.