It’s been a week of recriminations at the Prostar Stadium – and there was more soul-searching to do after another afternoon of frustration.

This was certainly no horror show to rival the FA Cup humiliation against Staines, and the boos from the Shrewsbury fans at the end were probably a little harsh on this occasion.

But there was no denying that they will look back and wonder how they did not manage to claim a win against a Torquay United side that offered little as an attacking force.

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It’s a result that many will doubtless see as two points dropped – especially having faced 10 men for more than half an hour, following Kieran Charnock’s dismissal for a two-footed lunge on Dean Holden.

Certainly, Town will be kicking themselves that they failed to put away more than one of the several chances they created.

But there will be a sense of relief, too, that they were able to respond after the shock of falling behind.

Dave Hibbert’s equaliser nine minutes from time was a massive let-off after Chris Hargreaves’s strike – which took a big deflection – had put Torquay in front.

Picking the ball out of the net was pretty much the first thing Town keeper Chris Neal had been asked to do all afternoon.

“The biggest disappointment for me is the goal we conceded,” said boss Paul Simpson, “We had every opportunity to clear it and we were not brave enough.

“We were not brave enough to win a challenge around about the halfway line that has got our name all over it.

“We lose it and we end up conceding a goal – that is the concern for me.”

All the best chances of the first half fell the way of the home side, who were certainly not afraid to have a go from any angle.

The first effort of substance came from Hibbert 20 minutes in, the leading scorer hitting a rasping drive that flashed narrowly wide.

Then the recalled Steve Leslie, operating on the wing in place of the injured Lewis Neal, cut in from the left and thumped a terrific goalward drive that keeper Michael Poke was forced to tip over the bar.

The game looked like it might turn irreversibly in Shrewsbury’s favour nine minutes after the restart when Charnock’s ugly challenge with his studs showing earned him an instant red card.

Town’s efforts to make the extra man count came to little though, and there was a frustrating lack of urgency as they continued to largely rely on long range efforts.

The impressive Holden twice tried his luck from 30 yards out and second time forced Poke into parrying the ball away.

Hibbert was guilty of spurning one good opening from inside the area as he leant back and fired over.

There was always a nagging sense that the Gulls might make them pay – and sure enough Hargreaves struck 14 minutes from time to leave the home hordes dumb-founded.

Shrewsbury deserve some credit for the way they rallied, even if Simpson was justly frustrated that it had taken this setback to get them to radically up the tempo.

Skipper Graham Coughlan thought he had equalised off Leslie’s corner, but his header bounced off the inside of the far post and back into the grateful Poke’s arms.

Town only had to wait another couple of minutes though, Hibbert pouncing when Leslie’s deep cross from the left was knocked down for the big striker.

The hosts twice could have won it in injury-time, substitute Kris Bright missing one golden opportunity and Hibbert then looking clear at the death but failing to get his shot away.

That seemed to sum up a frustrating day for Shrewsbury, though Leslie was quick to find the positives.

“We were putting all the pressure on them for about 10 minutes and then they hit us on the break and score,” he said.

“But we did well to bounce back from it and go on to put them under more pressure towards the end of the game.

“We were maybe a little unlucky not to come away with the win in the end.”

Town stay seventh in League Two but there is little doubt they will have to up their game to stay there.