Barnet 2 Shrewsbury 2 - match report

One week down, four points accumulated. So far so good for Shrewsbury Town.

The search for a first ever Football League victory at Barnet – and this was the 10th attempt – may go on.

But a share of the spoils on Saturday provided a more than acceptable conclusion to a highly promising opening seven days to the campaign.

A return of eight goals in three games – Carling Cup included – has allayed fears that the vacuum created by the departure of Grant Holt and Ben Davies would not be filled.

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And signs of Town's unflinching spirit were on show in the capital as they battled back from a worrying half-time position. Despite Nathan Elder's first goal for the club giving Shrewsbury the dream start after 104 seconds, Barnet comfortably posed the greater first-half threat and led at the interval.

But Paul Simpson's side regrouped at the interval, equalised through the on-fire Dave Hibbert and looked the more likely to win an open encounter in the closing stages.

It was a fine response, made all the more impressive by the fact the visitors were forced to digest the blow of conceding two penalties.

They could have few complaints about the first after 28 minutes, Craig Disley clearly tripping the ever-dangerous Albert Adamoah as the Barnet winger cut across the box.

Chris Neal produced a fine stop to deny Paul Furlong on that occasion, but it was the second award from referee Steve Hooper which had Town protesting.

Despite minimal, if any contact, Dean Holden was adjudged to have tugged the shirt of Jake Hyde as the pair battled to meet an Adamoah cross first.

It was a decision which stunned the visitors, not least because it put Town 2-1 behind on the stroke of half-time.

"The second penalty was very harsh," said manager Simpson.

"Dean Holden had only got his eyes fixed on the ball and the lad definitely brought it

"But I was pleased with a lot of things and we were just disappointed it's not all three points.

"I'm happy we are looking a strong side – physically and mentally – and I'm hopeful we will still get better."

Town would have been dreaming of the type of away victory which proved so elusive for much of last season when Elder grabbed his first goal in blue-and-amber inside two minutes, taking advantage of some slack marking before heading home a Paul Murray free-kick.

But, for much of the opening period, it was Barnet who set the tempo.

Neal had done well to dive at the feet of Jake Hyde in the opening minute, before brilliantly tipping a Micah Hyde pile-driver around the post.

He then produced an heroic penalty save from Furlong following Disley's foul, but wass helpless to prevent Jake Hyde looping a header into the top corner from an Adamoah cross on the half hour.

The game was then turned around on the stroke of half-time when Jake Hyde won and then slotted home the penalty to give Shrewsbury an uphill task.

But a minor formation shuffle helped Town get to grips with the dangerous wide players Adamoah and Albert Jarrett after the break, and it was the visitors who then came on strong.

Paul Murray had a shot well saved by Jake Cole in the Barnet goal, before Hibbert's red-hot streak continued when he headed home a Shane Cansdell-Sherriff corner shortly before the hour.

Both sides had chances to snatch all three points late on.

Jake Robinson fired an effort inches past the post before supplying a cross for Elder who headed the wrong side of the target from six yards.

Kelvin Langmead also nodded a golden opportunity just over while there were strong claims for a penalty when Hibbert appeared to be having his shirt tugged by Daniel Leach.

At the other end, Leach struck the bar with a header while Ismail Yakubu also went close when he headed a set-piece just over the top as the clock ticked down.

By James Garrison