Town take the lead but have to come back at the death
Manager Micky Mellon has been forced into two changes forShrewsbury
Jordan Clark replaces the suspended Ian Black in midfield, while Mat Sadler replaces the injured Junior Brown.
Town's Sky Bet League 1 fixture at home to Scunthorpe United.
There was a break in play with just over a minute on the clock after a clash of heads following a corner saw Kyle Vassell down on the ground, he looked a little stunned but after a break in play was OK to carry on the game.
There was little in the way of the clear cut openings in the opening 10 minutes but wen Kaikai got the ball out on the left he cut inside, looked up for options but then shaped up and curled a shot in that was deflected behind for a Town corner.
On the 10 minutes Town had a great chance when Luke Daniels goal kick was poor and went straight to Kyle Vassell and he was in on on goal, he took the ball forward with only Daniels to beat and lifted his shot over the out rushing keeper but had too much on it and it was well over the bar.
Moments later Scunthorpe had a good chance of their own when Madden burst into the Town box, he was the angle with only Halstead to beat but the Town keeper was down quickly to spread himself and got an important block in.
Scunthorpe had another decent sight of goal after Paddy Madden found space on the edge of the Town box, he hit a decent low drive but Mark Halstead was equal to it with a good diving save to tip the ball away.
Town were starting to build some good pressure and when the ball came to Abu Ogogo on the edge of the Scunny box he took it forward and then hit in a good looking shot that was deflected behind for a Town corner. Whalley placed the ball and whipped a delivery into the danger area, Daniels jumped between players and looked to have it covered but he dropped the ball under pressure and there was Sullay Kaiaki on the spot to hook the ball into the top right hand corner to make it 1-0 to Town.
With 30 minutes on the clock Scunthorpe had another good chance to level things, the ball came in from Wallace and Nat Knight-Percival failed to get a good connection with his header, it flicked off his head and dropped to Madden who had found space at the back post but he wasn't expecting the ball and stabbed his shot wide of the target.
Town were building up some good pressure and keeping the ball around the visitors final third. Town worked the ball ball around the box and Ogogo drilled in a shot, a Scunny player swung a foot it it and the ball looped up and seemed to strike a hand, but the ref was on the spot and waved play on and Town had to be content with a corner. Whalley put in another good delivery from the corner and there was Knight-Percival with a great header that left Daniels rooted to the spot but Townsend was on the post and headed the ball off the line and the visitors turned the ball behind for another Town corner.
Half-time: 1-0
The second half started with a great piece of skill from Sullay Kaikai, he was just inside the visitors half and took a lovely touch to take him past his two markers, all Jordan Clarke could do was pull him back to stop him getting away and the Scunthorpe player picked up a yellow card for his troubles.
It was Town's turn to pick up a booking, it went to Larnell Cole after he went in for a challenge on the halfway line, it looked a little harsh to be called a foul but the ref was on the spot and he had no hesitation to call the foul and produce the yellow card for Cole.
Ref Kettle was starting to produce his yellow cards out on a regular basis, the next was for Paddy Madden after he was trying to close down a goal kick from Mark Halstead, Madden jumped when Mark took his kick and blocked the ball and was the next to go into the referees book.
The game had become a little bit scrappy with possession switching between the two sides quite regularly and neither getting on top. There was still some good football being played being played but Town needed to get hold of the game again and stamp their authority back on it.
Scunthorpe got back on level terms on 68 minutes and it was Town's own doing, Grimmer let the ball drop and it fell to Sullay Kaikai, he tried to keep possession and play a little pass but it was intercepted by Williams who took the ball ball forward and played it Wooton who took a touch and put his shot home at the near post to make 1-1.
With 15 minutes left Micky Mellon made his second switch of the game with Andy Mangan coming on to replace Sullay Kaikai as Town looked to get back on top in the game.
Scunthorpe took the lead on 77 minutes and again it was Town who gave the visitors the chance, this time it came after a Town free-kick came back to Mat Sadler on the half way line, he was immediately closed down and turned back to the goal, he tried to play it back to Halstead but didn't put enough on it, Madden was there to intercept with Dom Smith close by but the Scunthorpe forward shouldered him off the ball and was in on goal, he burst into the box and Halstead was down bravely to attempt to block but the ball bounced kindly for Madden who then fired the ball home to put the visitors in the lead.
Town looked to hit back and a quick break saw Mangan come away with the ball and power forward, he had options and played a good ball cross field to Vassell, he took the ball forward and hit in a decent shot from outside the box but Daniels was down smartly to save. From the resulting corner Clark curled the ball in and there was Dom Smith at the back post but he couldn't get any power on it and it went wide of the goal.
Town kept pushing and pushing and looking to get back on level terms but it was frustrating as Scunthorpe weren't going to lie down and surrender their lead. When Town lost the ball the visitors were slowing it down and keeping possession but for their credit Town kept going and kept working.
And with near the last touch of the game the ball came to Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro just inside the visitors half, he looked up and took the ball forward looking for options, there were a number of Town players making the run in and JLAA curled a lovely inviting ball into the box, Mangan darted out a foot and the ball dropped past Daniels to make level the score at the death, whether Mangan got the last touch we will try to find out.
Full-time: 2-2
SHREWSBURY TOWN LINE-UP
SUBS: Callum Burton (GK), Jermaine Grandison, Richie Wellens, Scott Vernon, Elliot Grandin.
: Mark Halstead (GK); Mat Sadler, Kyle Vassell, Shaun Whalley (Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro 70), Sullay Kaikai (Andy Mangan, 75), Jack Grimmer, Abu Ogogo, Nathaniel Knight-Percival (C), Jordan Clark, Larnell Cole, Dominic Smith.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED LINE-UP:
SUBS: Joe Anyon, Scott Laird, Sean McAllister, Charlie Goode, Gary McSheffrey.
Luke Daniels (GK); David Mirfin, Paddy Madden, Jim O'Brien, Neal Bishop, Conor Townsend, Jack King © (Luke Williams 61), Tom Hopper (Kyle Wootton 54), Murray Wallace, Jamie Ness, Jordan Clarke.
REFEREE
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Andrew Newbold
ASSISTANTS: Paul Hobday & Peter Gibbons
: Trevor Kettle