Seamus Conneely volleyed home his first goal in a year but Accrington Stanley had to settle for a point against Shrewsbury Town.

The captain fired in the opener in the 47th minute but ex-Red winger Shaun Whalley grabbed a close range equaliser 13 minutes from time.

For the fourth game running, John Coleman started with the same starting eleven.

It was a pretty even opening with Nathan Baxter having to make the first save on eight minutes, diving to superbly deny Josh Vela after the defender had his initial strike blocked.

Neither side’s goalkeeper was really tested after that in a half of limited chances in windy conditions.

Stanley’s first opportunity came on 14 minutes when a corner from Matt Butcher bounced around the penalty area but a Cameron Burgess close range effort was blocked.

Sean Goss tried to catch Baxter off his line from the halfway line on 25 minutes but it was well off-target.

Doncaster goalscorer Paul Smyth had a great chance on 28 minutes, racing down the left and cutting in but Ri-Shaun Williams got back to block the strike at the last moment.

Dion Charles had a strike blocked while Adam Phillips played a superb ball into the box but Charles just couldn’t get his head to it.

Ben Barclay made a tremendous tackle to stop Harry Chapman having a shot on goal from close range as it was goalless at half-time.

Coleman brought on David Morgan for this Wham Stadium debut for Smyth at half-time.

Stanley took the lead on 47 minutes when a Butcher free kick into the box bounced around without being cleared and it fell to Conneely on the edge of the box and he volleyed home.

A Goss free kick 30 yards out was inches wide of Baxter’s goal while, at the other end, Charles raced forward but his goalbound effort was blocked.

Shrewsbury equalised on 77 minutes when a Chapman corner to the near post was flicked on and Whalley steered the ball over the line to share the spoils.