Shrewsbury Town ended their pre-season programme with an entertaining 1-1 draw at League One Tranmere Rovers, although the result was soured by a nasty-looking injury to midfielder Lewis Neal.

Neal was stretchered off with a suspected sprained ankle after falling awkwardly in a tackle late in the first-half, after captain Kelvin Langmead’s powerful header had given Shrewsbury the lead.

Alan Mahon equalised for Tranmere with a second-half free-kick, before Town substitute Andre Gray missed a wonderful chance to win the game.

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Shrewsbury included trialist Kris Bright, a New Zealand international, in their side, while Tranmere’s line-up included goalkeeper Luke Daniels, who spent last season on loan at the Prostar Stadium.

Town started quickly, with Bright keen to impress, but it was Rovers who had the first clear chance, Ash Taylor heading Paul McLaren’s corner over the bar after seven minutes.

Bright then had the ball in the net with a neat lob over Daniels, after being played in by Neal, but the whistle had gone for offside.

However, Town did not have to wait long for the goal their attacking play deserved. Langmead met Jake Simpson’s in-swinging corner with a powerful header past Daniels, who got a hand to it, but could not keep it out.

Two minutes later and the woodwork denied Town a spectacular second. The lively Jake Robinson and Bright again linked up well, before Robinson sent a shot with the outside of his right foot curling over Daniels, only to see it rebound to safety off the crossbar.

And Daniels denied Town a second just after half-time, pulling off a stunning one-handed save to tip Steve Leslie’s vicious half-volley over the bar.

Tranmere were level after 64 minutes after Paul Murray brought down Chris Shuker close to the touchline.

Mahon sent his free kick across goal, where it deceived everyone, including the unsighted Chris Neal, to find the far corner.

But Shrewsbury could – and should – have gone onto win the game, with Gray missing a golden chance with 13 minutes to go.

The young striker seized upon a poor back pass from Taylor to be left with just Daniels to beat, but shot wide from 12 yards to leave the final score 1-1.

By John Ball