Whatever Shrewsbury Town’s campaign has in store over the coming nine months, it is unlikely this draw with Chesterfield will be highlighted as a defining moment come May.

But in the context of the early season fortunes of Paul Simpson’s side, it may well go down as a very significant point.

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As Town players were to admit afterwards, the desperate display at Dagenham on Tuesday had placed the squad under extra pressure for their return to the Prostar Stadium on Saturday.

So a vastly improved performance producing a 1-1 result which was significantly easier to digest has at least given Town a platform on which to build after such a major setback.

“There was definitely a little bit of extra pressure,” said full-back Dean Holden.

“The fans were as disappointed as we were with the other night and it was important we responded and gave them something to shout about to keep them on side.

“We have done that. We haven’t got the three points but the positive signs are there.

“We played well for long parts of the game but just before their goal we lost our shape a little bit and they got a couple of chances.

“But the positive response was what we needed.”

This performance was by no means perfect.

But in the second half in particular, Town displayed some of the attacking verve which provided eight goals and such grounds for optimism during the opening three games of the season.

And, other than a rocky 20 minute patch midway through the second period, the defensive display carried far more convincing look than at Victoria Road four days earlier.

That was certainly the case in a lacklustre first half as Chesterfield offered next to no attacking threat on Chris Neal’s goal.

Truth be told, Shrewsbury were hardly peppering the visitors with regular efforts either.

But Dave Hibbert had already struck a superbly clean volley from 25 yards which produced a stunning stop from Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee by the time Steve Leslie gave Shrewsbury a 31st minute lead.

The goal when it arrived was well worth waiting for.

A sweeping ball from Joss Labadie picked out Holden down the right and, while his inviting cross eluded Nathan Elder at the near post, Leslie timed his run to perfection to nod home from 15 yards to finish off the move of the match.

If chances were few and far between in the opening period, the entertainment levels were certainly cranked up in the second period.

Shrewsbury could have put the game to bed within minutes of the re-start when Leslie’s 30 yard free-kick produced a good stop from Lee, while Kelvin Langmead and Hibbert each put headers just the wrong side of the target.

But just as Town threatened to take a stranglehold, so they became a little stretched defensively and Chesterfield’s lively attacking players found increasing joy.

The ever dangerous Jack Lester flashed a near post volley just wide of the target while Derek Niven and Donal McDermott were only just off target with powerful shots.

So there was an air of inevitability about the leveller when it arrived on 69 minutes, Jamie Lowry cutting inside after a strong run forward from McDermott before curling an effort into the bottom corner from 15 yards.

From that moment, Town re-discovered their composure somewhat as both sides had chances to win it late on.

A stinging effort from Mark Allott went just over the bar while substitute Jake Robinson – left out of the starting line-up along with Kevin McIntyre as Town reverted to a conventional 4-4-2 formation from the 4-3-3 shape – twice came within a whisker of becoming the hero.

First, a curling 25-yard shot came crashing back off the post as the clock ticked down, while he was also denied by Lee late on.

Leslie then fired inches wide with a right foot effort as Town almost grabbed a dramatic late winner in injury time.

By James Garrison