A LAST gasp penalty handed new-look Shawbury United a share of the points at Shifnal Town in their opening West Midlands League Premier Division game of the season.

Boss Dave Richards included five 16-year-olds in his squad and it looked as though they would return from their county neighbours empty-handed after their hosts opened up a 2-1 lead.

But the final seconds saw impressive full-back Jack Hickman burst into the box to be brought down and Liam Taylor levelled the scores with the resulting penalty.

An ugly fracas midway through the first half following a poor challenge on Reis Mahey saw both sides reduced to ten men - Joe Delacoe seeing red for Shawbury - but it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when a long throw was headed home by Harry Farnsworth.

Shifnal hit back just before half-time though with Ben Osei on target against his former side and then took the lead early in the second period before Shawbury finished the stronger.

Armando Wood, Rifat Ata and Hickman all went close only to be foiled by Shifnal’s defence and keeper until Taylor’s late penalty evened things up.