Shrews Claim Point At The ABAX
Peterborough United's winning run came to a halt against a determined Shrewsbury Town side at the ABAX Stadium with former Posh striker Tyrone Barnett earning the visitors a share of the spoils on a blustery day.Barnett came off the bench to fire home from close-range in the final quarter of the game to cancel out Conor Washington's opener following a glorious Erhun Oztumer pass.
Graham Westley's men created chances, but were not as ruthless with their shot count as in recent weeks and the visitors perhaps deserved their point.
Conor Washington glanced a header from a Marcus Maddison corner kick over the bar inside the opening five minutes of the contest.
Harry Beautyman headed wide at the back post after a glorious cross from Elder on eight minutes after a patient Posh build-up.
Almeida Santos powered a header from an Oztumer corner kick wide of the target on 20 minutes as Posh continued to press for the breakthrough in the tricky conditions.
Moments later, Halstead was called upon to save from Bostwick after a well-worked Posh corner with Forrester's flick on at the near post creating the opportunity for the centre back.
Shrewsbury front man James Collins fired wide of the upright on 29 minutes after finding some space in the Posh penalty box on the angle as the visitors posed a threat.
Forrester fired wide on 32 minutes after exchanging passes with Maddison 30-yards from goal, the Irishman cutting across the ball which saw the effort drift wide of the upright.
Halstead made a smart stop to deny a snap-shot from Washington on 33 minutes, the keeper beating the fierce drive away from danger.
On 41 minutes, Washington showed good strength to out muscle Grandison, no mean feat itself, before seeing a powerful shot beaten away by Halstead.
The visitors were dealt a blow on the stroke of half-time as Black was stretchered from the field after injuring himself in a crude looking tackle on Elder by the touchline.
In stoppage time, Maddison was superbly denied by Halstead after his dipping free-kick caused problems and seconds later, Posh were a whisker away from the breakthrough as Ozstumer's shot was arrowed inches past the post with Angol close to getting a final touch.
Northern Irishman Smith was cautioned for a blatant shirt tug on 49 minutes. Vernon was denied by Alnwick and moments later the Posh shot-stopper was called upon again, this time denying Collins after a quickly taken free-kick.
Sulley Kaikai, a one-time Cambridge United loanee, came close to giving the Salop the lead on 55 minutes as he twisted and turned in the box, but he fired low and wide of the far post.
The deadlock was broken on 56 minutes and it was a glorious assist from Erhun Oztumer who picked out the run of WASHINGTON, he chested it down and fired past Halstead with his left-foot to give Posh the lead.
Posh made a change on the hour mark with Jon Taylor replacing Angol and Andrew Fox replaced Beautyman on 66 minutes.
Maddison was denied by a fine fingertip save from Halstead moments later after Forrester was crudely fouled by Ogogo. Fox tested Halstead with a fizzing low drive that the keeper did well to beat away before Washington's back heel across the box had no takers in blue.
The lively Kaikai was denied by Alnwick on 74 minutes with Bostwick well positioned to clear the loose ball.
On 79 minutes, the visitors got themselves an equaliser and although there was a hint of offside about it, Posh could have no complaints that it was coming. A shot from Kaikai was spilled by Alnwick and there was substitute BARNETT to slot home the rebound.
Oztumer saw a shot blocked and then curled over from the edge of the box after good hustling from Washington in the approach play.
Substitute Coulibaly fired over late on after a bit of pinball in the visitors' defence as Elder managed to wriggle his way to the by-line to deliver a decent centre.
Barnett was denied late on by a decent stop from Alnwick while Washington fired over at the other end as Posh were forced to settle for a point.
Posh: Alnwick, Smith, Bostwick, Oztumer, Maddison (sub Coulibaly 76min), Almeida Santos, Washington, Beautyman (sub Fox 66min), Angol (sub Taylor 59min), Elder, Forrester. Unused subs: Henry, Baldwin, Lopes, Coulibaly, H. Anderson.
Shrewsbury: Halstead, Grandison, Black (sub Lawrence 46min), Collins (sub McAlinden 76min), Kaikai, Brown, Gerrard, Vernon, Ogogo, Knight-Percival, Clark (sub Barnett 69min). Unused subs: Burton, Whitbread, Lawrence, Whalley, Smith.
Half-time: Peterborough United 0-0 Shrewsbury Town
Full-time: Peterborough United 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
Attendance: 5,568 (204 Shrewsbury fans)