Lincoln and Shrewsbury share the spoils in a tight encounter at the LNER Stadium

Salop extend their 16-year unbeaten record at the LNER Stadium, dating back to March 2005. Steve Cotterill’s men were inches away from taking all three points in the dying embers, but Lincoln held firm.

The Imps had their best chance of the game within three minutes as Dan Nlundulu battled through two Shrewsbury players to find himself one-on-one with Marko Marosi, but the Salop stopper denied him a second goal of the season.

Appleton made one change coming into the fixture replacing TJ Eyoma with Adam Jackson, but he would be forced to switch pair in the first half as Jackson was eventually stretchered off following a long delay.

Lincoln took the lead following the restart, a long stretch of possession was rewarded as Regan Poole clipped in a ball that, captain, Conor McGrandles would meet; cushioning past Marosi.

Matthew Pennington thought her levelled up the proceedings as he headed in from a corner but Robert Madley had blown his whistle to disallow the goal, much to Pennington’s bemusement.

As the sides emerged for the second half, Hakeeb Adelakun replaced Ted Bishop forcing Lincoln into another concussion substitution meaning both Lincoln and Shrewsbury would be able to make five substitutions.

It didn’t take long for Salop to equalise as four minutes into the second half Luke Leahy attacked George Nurse’s trademark long throw-in. Leahy’s fourth of the season would keep the Imps’ unwanted record of not having kept a clean sheet in the league this season.

Chances started to arrive for both sides as neither was content with a point. The best coming from Shaun Whalley’s edge of the area strike that made Josh Griffiths react quickly and tip over. Salop were chasing a first away win of the season.

Lincoln’s most fruitful opportunity to secure a first back-to-back wins of the season was a 85th minute Adelakun curler that brought out the best of Marosi to palm the effort away.

Victory was almost clinched for the Shropshire outfit when Rekeil Pyke chased down a loose ball finding himself in a foot race with Griffiths. It was Griffiths that took the gold as he managed to claw away the ball from trickling into the net in the 93rd minute.

Lincoln sit 12th place going into their three-week league hiatus whereas Shrewsbury have been stamped down into the relegation zone following Charlton’s impressive win.