Town 1 Cambridge 1 - Report and pictures

The U's substitute broke Salop hearts with a late, late leveller after Town had taken the lead through a first-half Bobby Grant strike.

Town should have been out of sight following an inspired first-half performance which saw them pass the ball at will.

But they were made to pay right at the death, with Burton's win over Hartlepool seeing Micky Mellon's side drop to second in the table.

Despite the game being Town's third in a week, Mellon kept faith with the starting XI that secured the 2-1 win at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

The only change came on the subs bench, with promising winger Josh Ginnelly recalled following his goal scoring heroics against Telford in the Shropshire Senior Cup.

For Cambridge, former Shrewsbury stars Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Matt Harrold both started.

In glorious sunshine, Shrewsbury made a flying start to the match with Mickey Demetriou sending in a teasing cross which Tyrone Barnett hooked just wide.

Playing a high defensive line, Town started the game full of confidence with Ryan Woods and Jordan Clark combing well in centre midfield.

And after enjoying almost total domination of the opening stages, Town took a deserved lead in the 16th minute when Bobby Grant grabbed his third goal of the week.

Cameron Gayle's whipped cross found Barnett in the box with the striker turning his marker brilliantly before smashing a shot against the crossbar.

The opportunity appeared to have been missed, but the ball was kept alive by Collins who saw his cross slammed home by Grant on the half-volley.

Cambridge hit back immediately with Jordan Slew bursting through the Salop defence and hitting a shot which Leutwiler gathered.

At the other end, Grant hit a low strike which Collins was inches away from tapping in at the back post.

But going a goal down had sprung Cambridge into life and Leutwiler was forced into another smart save when the lively Slew shot from 20-yards.

And they registered their best chance of the first half just before the half-hour mark.

A brilliant low cross into the box was begging to be tapped home by Harrold but Gayle slid in with a brilliant challenge to turn the ball over his own cross bar.

Had the wing-back not intervened, the former Shrewsbury striker would have been left with a simple tap-in.

Town used half-time to parade the Shropshire Senior Cup with Salop's youth team receiving a rapturous round of applause for their win over arch rivals Telford.

And with the mood inside Greenhous Meadow buoyant, Town continued to press at the start of the second half.

Great skill from Barnett enabled the striker to deliver a cross that Collins cushioned into the path of Gayle before the defender fired over.

Minutes later and the Shrewsbury faithful were up on their feet appealing for a penalty.

Grant sent in a wonderful cross that seemed destined to be met by Collins, but the striker failed to connect with the marksman adament he was pushed in the back.

But despite loud appeals from the crowd, referee Michael Bull waved the protests away much to the disgust of Town's top scorer.

Like in the first half, Cambridge had taken their time to settle but they nearly got back on level terms when Mendez-Laing worked himself some space in the box and hit a shot which Leutwiler smartly stopped.

And having found their rhythm, the U's again come close when Michael Nelson's strike cannoned off the post following a corner.

Town were suddenly looking shaky at the back with shot-stopper Leutwiler again called into action on 65 minutes.

A corner was sent back across goal to Josh Coulson who met the ball with a firm header a yard from goal but Leutwiler spectacularly tipped it over the bar.

Mellon responded by switching the recently booked Barnett for Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

And the moved look to be positive one with the Frenchman seeing a low shot pushed wide following a mistake from Michael Nelson.

From the resultant corner Jermaine Grandison just failed to connect with a fine Grant delivery following a late run.

The game was now flowing end to end and the U's fans thought they had pulled level when Robbie Simpson's free-kick whistled just past the post.

Substitute Sullay Kaikai then saw a snap shot on turn well held by a spralling Leutwiler.

Determined to regain the initiative, Town began to pile forward.

First Grant saw a free-kick tipped onto the cross bar by Dunn.

Then Demetriou hit a sweet half-volley which was deflected inches wide with the 'keeper stranded.

With the 90 minute mark showing, Mellon brought on Keith Soutehrn for goal scorer Grant to shore things up.

And it was in stoppage time Cambridge grabbed a point.

The otherwise excellent Leutwiler failed to deal with a cross with the ball falling kindly for Kaikai who tapped into the empty net.

It was a cruel blow for Micky Mellon's side who will feel they should have come away with all three points.