Michael Appleton's side had a fourth consecutive home win snatched away late on against Gillingham.

Managed by former Town boss Gareth Ainsworth, the Gills found themselves a goal down early on when the ball rolled in off George Lloyd.

The lead was doubled when Luca Hoole finished off a mazy run with a rocket in the 23rd minute.

An unfortunate Sam Stubbs own goal gave the visitors something to chase, but Lloyd was on hand to reinstate the two-goal advantage before the break.

In the second period, Robbie McKenzie converted a second-half spot-kick before Elliott Nevitt headed home the equaliser in the 86th minute.

Team news:

Boss Appleton made three changes to his starting XI on Saturday afternoon, replacing Tom Sang, Tommy McDermott and John Marquis with Hoole, Isaac England and Lloyd respectively.

This meant Will Brook - fresh off signing a new two-and-a-half-year deal - continued in goal. Will Boyle, Stubbs and Tom Anderson remained in the back three with Hoole at right wing-back and Sam Clucas on the left.

Josh Ruffels partnered young England in midfield while Anthony Scully and Ismeal Kabia sat just behind Lloyd as the lone striker.

Gillingham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. In form Bradley Dack was the number 10 with Sam Vokes up top.

Report:

Shrewsbury started with a fire in their bellies against the former boss, and they took the lead within a few minutes!

A long throw from Stubbs was flicked to the feet of Scully by Anderson.

The Irishman then took aim, with his shot colliding off Lloyd's ankles and into the back of the net with just 11 minutes on the clock.

Town weren't letting up and could've doubled their lead when the ball dropped to Anderson in the box moments later.

However, the centre-half couldn't keep his strike down.

Fortunately for the hosts, a touch of class from another defender was to come.

Hoole leapt highest to win the ball on the right wing before collecting his own knock-down.

He then turned McKenzie inside-out before blasting the ball past Jake Turner in the 23rd minute.

After what had been an outstanding first half-hour, the visitors managed to rescue a lifeline when Seb Palmer-Houlden's header hit Stubbs and flew in shortly before the break.

Salop responded by immediately going down the other end with Scully, who forced a save out of Turner with a dipping strike from the edge of the box.

And the next time Town took aim, it was with an effort Turner had no chance of stopping.

Scully won the ball in midfield and played an inch-perfect ball through to Lloyd, who arrowed the ball across Turner with venom to reinstate Shrewsbury's two-goal lead in added time at the end of the first period.

A significantly quieter second half came to pass, and it took 20 minutes for the next action.

It came when Stubbs was judged to have fouled Josh Andrews in the penalty area, and McKenzie stepped up to halve Town's advantage from the spot.

With his side in need of fresh legs, Appleton looked to his bench and replaced Kabia and Scully with John Marquis and Chuks Aneke.

This meant Marquis had secured his 600th professional appearance.

Unfortunately, the visitors would draw level late on as Nevitt headed home to ensure the points were shared.

Town will now look to return to winning ways when they travel to Sutton United in the second round of the FA Cup next weekend.

Teams:

Shrewsbury: Brook, Boyle, Stubbs, Anderson, Clucas, Hoole, Ruffels, England, Scully (Aneke 74'), Kabia (Marquis 74'), Lloyd

Subs not used: Harrison, Benning, McDermott, Sang, Perry

Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Clark (Cirino 60'), Coleman, McCleary, Williams (Khumbeni 60'), Palmer-Houlden (Nevitt 82'), McKenzie, Vokes (Andrews 27'), Dack, Gale

Subs not used: Holtham, Rowe, Akomeah

Attendance: 5,217 (484)