A 90th minute penalty from Ben Knight broke Shrewsbury hearts at Cambridge won at the Abbey Stadium.

Michael Appleton's side more than deserved a point as they hit the road for the second time in the space of a few days.

Debutant Matt Cox had made a good save to deny Sully Kaikai early in the game.

But that moment aside, the in-form hosts offered little - with Josh Ruffles inches away from putting Town ahead shortly after the interval.

In the 90th minute though, the hosts got a penalty when Luca Hoole was judged to have handled the ball.

And that was converted by Ben Knight who ensured it was the hosts who came away with all three points.

Team news:

Boss Appleton opted for a 4-4-2 formation for the trip to the Abbey Stadium.

It saw Matt Cox make his debut in the Town goal with Luca Hoole, Tom Anderson, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels making up the back four.

In midfield, Tom Sang started on the right with Sam Clucas on the left and Taylor Perry partnering Temple Ojinnaka in the middle.

Iwan Morgan and Trey Ogunsuyi were the front two.

Cambridge lined up in a 3-4-2-1 system with Sully Kaikai and Ben Knight operating behind Louis Appere in attack.

Report:

In what was an even and keenly contested opening 20 minutes, both teams created chances to break the deadlock.

It was the hosts who had the best oppertunity - with slipped through one-on-one.

The former Town man, though, was brilliantly denied by Cox, with the keeper making himself as big as possible to block at the forward's feet.

Shrewsbury replied when, following a corner, Ruffels saw a goal-bound effort hacked clear by James Gibbons.

The in-form hosts proded and probed for the rest of the half - with Cox making decent saves to deny Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Appere.

But they didn't truly threaten again until added on time at the end of the first half when Ben Knight went on a mazy run.

After beating three Salop players, he let fly from the edge of the box. Once again, though, Cox was equal to the effort.

Town had a good chance to break the deadlock shortly after the re-start.

Sang's corner fell kindly for Ruffels who fired agonisingly past the post. 

Having brought on George Lloyd earlier, Appleton made a double change in the 73rd minute.

John Marquis and Ismeal Kabia entered the fray for Hughes and Ojinnaka in a move that saw Sang move into central midfield.

Cambridge threatened again in the 78th minute - Cox claiming well again from Knight's 20 yard strike.

But in the 90th minute they won it when Hoole was judged to have handled a cross in the box.

And Knight went on to convert the penalty to ensure the hosts maintaned their excellent home form.

Teams:

Cambridge: Eastwood, Bennett (Ball 46), Watts, Brophy (Lavery 62), Appere (Nevitt 62), Kaikai, Knight, Mpanzu (McLoughlin 73), Jobe, Gibbons, Hoddle (Purrington 46).

Subs not used: Hughes, Rossi, Lavery.

Shrewsbury: Cox, Hoole, Anderson, Boyle, Ruffles, Sang, Perry, Ojinnaka (Kabia 73), Clucas, Morgan (Marquis 73), Ogunsuyi (Lloyd 53).

Subs not used: Brook, Scully, Freeman, Lee.

Attendance: 5,347 (168 away).