Colchester United

The U's were left frustrated by the visitors and the referee as they had shouts for penalties turned away and, although the U's kept their first clean sheet since October, they were unable to find the vital goal. 

There was an impressive debut for Leo Chambers from West Ham, but the U's will have to travel to Bradford on Tuesday to find that victory they need.

Colchester were the better side in the first half and began brightly,  Nicky Shorey put in a couple of  good crosses but Chris Porter couldn't get on the end of them. 

Moments later, Gavin Massey cut in from the left hand side but his well hit strike went over as it was rising all the way.

Shrewsbury then began to grow into the game and had their first shot of the game just after the 15 minute mark. The ball was laid back to Ian Black but his curling shot went over the bar.

The two main talking points of the first half will have been the two penalty shouts for Colchester. On two occasions, Drey Wright got the better of his man down the right hand side and looked to have been brought down. Only for the referee to give both decisions against the U's, with Wright receiving a yellow card the second time round.

The U's best chance of the game came after 27 minutes, George Moncur received the ball on the half way line and drove towards the Shrewsbury back line. He then fed an inch perfect pass to slide in Chris Porter. The U's striker couldn't convert however, placing the ball past the far post.

It was then Shrewsbury's turn to have their best chance of the half as a loose header fell to Abu Ogogo 25 yards out, his inch perfect strike cannoned off the post and away to safety. Despite these opportunities, it ended 0-0 at half time.

The U's were quickly out of the blocks in the second half as Gavin Massey had a shot deflected just wide and behind for a corner in the opening minutes.

Colchester then had another penalty shout turned down by the Referee as a wonderful delivery from new signing Leo Chambers towards Porter, appeared to strike a hand only for the referee to penalise Porter for the same offence.

The best chance of the second half happened just before the hour mark as Andrew Mangan was sent through over the top but he dragged his shot wide of Elliott Parish's post.

The game then became scrappy as both sides pushed for the elusive first goal of the game and half time sub Elliot Lee nearly broke the deadlock.

Lee cut in from the left and managed to make room for a shot after clever footwork but Jayson Leutwiler produces a strong right handed save down to his right to keep the scores at 0-0.

This is how it remained as both sides struggled to create any goalscoring chances in the final minutes, which meant the game finished all square.

The U's now travel to Bradford City on Tuesday night hoping to pick up all three points.