Shrewsbury Town 1 Colchester United 1

Cristian Lopez's opener had put Town ahead tonight but they didn't go in at half-time level, after Marcus Bean's shot passed through Weale for a Colchester equaliser.

There were just three minutes on the clock then Shrewsbury broke the deadlock, with a swift move started off by Wolves loanee Liam McAlinden.

McAlinden, in his first start for Town, picked a pass that released Adam Reach on the left to put in a low cross that Lopez dove down to meet, heading the ball under goalkeeper Sam Walker.

Shrews waited patiently in search of a second goal and Joe Jacobson came close on 12 minutes, climbing highest to meet Jon Taylor's corner from the right, only to nod it wide on the left.

McAlinden was on the prowl for his second goal in successive home games and let fly on 21 minutes after being played in by Reach, but his shot was rising and went over the bar.

At least McAlinden got his next shot from practically the same spot on the half hour on target, but it was no trouble for Walker to gather.

But the Colchester shot-stopper needed all of his might to beat clear Taylor's fierce drive two minutes later, steering the ball to safety.

Then all of Town's promising work was undone by a shot Weale should have kept out two minutes before the break.

Clinton Morrison set Marcus Bean clear in the box and he drew tackles along with two hands from Weale, only for a relatively tame effort to squeeze through his grasp and into the net.

Weale trudging down the tunnel at half-time, knowing he shouldn't have been beaten before the break, and the onus was on Shrews to regain the lead in the second-half.

Returning midfielder Luke Summerfield, after two games out with a groin injury, lasted 55 minutes before he was replaced by Connor Goldson.

Goldson went to right back, with Ryan Woods switched to the middle as Shrewsbury searched for another breakthrough.

They came close on 59 minutes when a back-pedalling Walker had to punch Dave Winfield's looping header over his own crossbar.

Both strikers in McAlinden and Lopez were then replaced by Tom Bradshaw and Paul Parry on 67 minutes, as Town looked to add fresh legs to their attack.

But it was from the flanks where Shrewsbury threatened again and Taylor had time to add power to hit a ball running free on 75. Unfortunately for him, it was always wizzing wide of the post.

A free kick on 79 minutes saw Jacobson rare up on the left and his set piece took flight well, only to drop just wide of the goal.