Lee Richardson named an unchanged team form the fourth game in succession. His Shrewbury counterpart Paul Simpson however was forced to make changes with centre back Graham Coughlan ruled out with a thigh strain soKelvin Langmead came in at centre-back, and Neil Ashton came into midfield to replace Steve Leslie who moved to the bench.
The Shrews had a good opportunity after just five minutes, when some neat interchange between Richard Walker and Kevin McIntyre released Grant Holt on the right hand side of the penalty area, but Holt drove wide of the near post. Speedy winger Chris Humphrey had an almost identical chance minutes later out pacing Kevin Austin but he to shot wide of Trevor Carson's goal.
A scrappy but intriguing first half was developing which was not made to run more smoothly by some seemingly inconsistent refereeing that saw Jack Lester was booked for a challenge on Garner and Ward following him into the book a little later.
Subsequent challenges and niggles on Lester seemed designed to test his composure; the visitors comfortably outscored their hosts in terms of fouls conceded, but only Walker's high foot on Page resulted in a stoppage-time booking. Such was the apparently one-sided nature of the referee's display that seemed to see the home bullied out of by a very well organised Shrews side .One also felt it would be an achievement on Lee Richardson's part if he managed to get through to his forthcoming disciplinary hearing without asking for further offences to be taken into consideration
Ashton had sent a fierce free-kick into the midriff of Trevor Carson in the home goal, Jamie Ward skewed a left footer wide of target.
Holt held off Rob Page on the edge of the box, and swivelled to get away his shot, but he was leaning back slightly and couldn't keep the ball down.
Deep into first half injury time Holt won a penalty kick. Rob Page was trying to usher Holt away from the six yard box and Holt appeared to have lost the opportunity to turn and shoot but there was contact Holt went down and the referee had no option but to point to the spot. Holt sent
Half-Time: 0-1
The Spireites having regrouped after conceding the late first half opener nearly caught the Shrews cold when Lester took a free-kick quickly to Ward but keeper Garner was alert to the danger and spread himself well to deny Ward.
The Shrews also had a four on two break but young Dan Gray read the situation superby and not only won his tackle he cooly brought the ball away from the left back spot and set the Spireites forward into another attack.
The Shrews almost extended their lead through Holt when he stretched
Lee Richardson had to make changes and he brought on Darren Currie for
On 66 minutes Currie looked up and hit a powerful strike from 25 yards which keeper Garner looked to have covered but inexplicably, the ball spun from his grasp and squirmed and bobbled its way over the line to give the Spireites a lifeline
Paul Simpson brought on Jamie White and Darren Moss for Murray and Walker
But the Spireites starting to dominate got back on level terms on 71 minutes. Neat approach play and a through ball to Lester inside the box and with the Spireite striker about to shoot Shrews skipper Mike Jackson wrestled Lester to the ground and a penalty was the only possible outcome. The Kop and many others thought
Lester was proving a real handful for the Shrews defence and appeared to have earn't his side another spot kick twisting his way adn running into the box and going down under challenge Mr Evans blow for the foul but somehow gave a freekick a yard outside the box.Which Alan Goodall hit high and wide of the Kop goal
Garner partly redeem himself for his earlier error when he denied Lester a late winner with a flying save as Lesters curler looked likely to find the left hand corner of the goal.
A great game of football and so top entertainment saw the Spireites show plenty of spirit to come back from the dead to earn a point and they were some what unfortunate not to gain all three in the end of a pulsating Friday night encounter.
Full-Time: 2-2
Subs: Gregor Robertson, Derek Niven, Darren Currie, Paul Harsley, Val Teixeira
Goal: Currie 66, Ward (pen) 71
Town: Glyn Garner, Neil Ashton (Leslie, 85), Mike Jackson (c), Kelvin Langmead, Ben Herd, Paul Murray (Moss, 69), Grant Holt, Chris Humphrey, Marc Tierney, Richard Walker (White, 67), Kevin McIntyre
Subs: Darren Moss, David Hunt, Dave Hibbert, Steve Leslie, Jamie White
Goals: Holt (pen) 45, 54
Referee: K Evans
Assistants: A Smith & S Smith
Fourth Official: I Dudley
