Richards has recently recovered from a thigh injury
Marc Richards scored twice and helped Port Vale to a draw against fellow play-off chasers Shrewsbury.
David Davis hit the bar early on for the home side, but it was the visitors who went ahead when Richards headed in from close range.
Lionel Ainsworth struck from 18 yards just a minute later to equalise.
James Collins slotted in to put Shrewsbury ahead, before Richards equalised from the penalty spot after Tom Pope had been fouled by Mat Sadler.
Port Vale manager Jim Gannon told BBC Radio Stoke: "Any point is a great point and it was well deserved I think.
"I'm not sure we did enough and played well enough to deserve a win, but we certainly didn't deserve to lose.
"I'm pleased with the result because it keeps a solid run going."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Shrewsbury
2-2
Port Vale
FT
(HT 1-1)
Ainsworth 30
Collins 72
M Richards 29
M Richards (pen) 83
Shrewsbury
25 Smith yellow card
03 Sadler
05 Sharps yellow card
06 Cansdell-Sherriff yellow card
18 Grandison
07 Wright yellow card
12 Wroe
16 Ainsworth (Bradshaw 82)
23 Taylor
29 Davies
14 Collins
Substitutes
01 Neal,
02 Raven,
19 Goldson,
08 McIntyre,
17 Van den Broek,
20 Disley,
34 Bradshaw
Port Vale
01 C Martin
02 Yates
05 McCombe
15 Collins (J Richards 76)
19 Geohaghan
14 Taylor (Taylor 46)
16 Haldane (Roberts 46)
18 Morsy yellow card
08 Dodds
09 M Richards yellow card
29 Pope
Substitutes
12 Tomlinson,
21 Sutton,
03 Taylor,
04 Griffith,
07 Loft,
22 Roberts,
11 J Richards
Ref: Phil GibbsAtt: 6,402
SHREWSBURY
PORT VALE
Possession
Shrewsbury51%
Port Vale49%
Attempts on target
Shrewsbury5
Port Vale4
Attempts off target
Shrewsbury6
Port Vale6
Corners
Shrewsbury8
Port Vale2
Fouls
Shrewsbury14
Port Vale8
Final Result
94:25 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
Full Time
90:00+4:09 A cross is delivered by James Collins, Justin Richards makes a clearance.
90:00+3:22 David Davies takes a shot. Chris Martin makes a save. Corner taken by Jon Taylor from the right by-line played to the near post, Gary Roberts manages to make a clearance.
90:00+1:52 Jon Taylor crosses the ball, Close range headed effort by Tom Bradshaw goes wide of the left-hand post.
90:00+1:33 Unfair challenge on Ian Sharps by Tom Pope results in a free kick. Ian Sharps takes the free kick.
88:35 The ball is sent over by Jon Taylor.
87:45 Shot from just outside the box by Sam Morsy goes over the crossbar.
87:03 David Davies challenges Justin Richards unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
86:17 Mark Wright fouled by Sam Morsy, the ref awards a free kick. Mat Sadler takes the free kick.
86:17 Booking Sam Morsy receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
85:30 Foul by Louis Dodds on David Davies, free kick awarded. David Davies takes the free kick.
85:02 Headed effort from deep inside the area by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff misses to the right of the goal.
Correction - 82:51 Tom Pope fouled by Mat Sadler, the ref awards a Penalty.
82:51 Mat Sadler concedes a Penalty for a foul on Tom Pope.
82:51 GOAL - Marc Richards:Shrewsbury 2 - 2 Port Vale Marc Richards scores a penalty. Shrewsbury 2-2 Port Vale.
Correction - 81:02 Substitution Lionel Ainsworth goes off and Tom Bradshaw comes on.
81:02 Substitution Tom Bradshaw replaces Lionel Ainsworth.
81:02 Booking Shane Cansdell-Sherriff receives a yellow card for dissent.
79:50 The ball is crossed by Robert Taylor, David Davies manages to make a clearance.
79:26 Lionel Ainsworth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Exodus Geohaghon. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.
78:57 Effort on goal by Tom Pope from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
78:43 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Justin Richards by Jermaine Grandison. Louis Dodds restarts play with the free kick.
78:13 Lionel Ainsworth takes a shot. Exodus Geohaghon gets a block in.
77:39 The ball is delivered by James Collins, Chris Martin makes a save.
75:49 Substitution Justin Richards joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lee Collins.
74:54 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Pope on Mat Sadler. Direct free kick taken by Benjamin Smith.
74:17 James Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Louis Dodds. Free kick taken by Chris Martin.
72:11 Booking The referee books Benjamin Smith for unsporting behaviour.
71:03 Assist by Mark Wright.
71:03 GOAL - James Collins:Shrewsbury 2 - 1 Port Vale James Collins finds the back of the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Shrewsbury 2-1 Port Vale.
69:45 Robert Taylor produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
67:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Wroe on Louis Dodds. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
66:31 The offside flag is raised against Lionel Ainsworth. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.
65:34 Exodus Geohaghon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Collins. Nicky Wroe restarts play with the free kick.
64:38 A cross is delivered by Lionel Ainsworth, clearance by John McCombe.
63:41 Outswinging corner taken by Jon Taylor from the right by-line played to the near post, Exodus Geohaghon makes a clearance.
60:32 Jon Taylor takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post. Jon Taylor takes the outswinging corner, Foul by James Collins on Lee Collins, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Chris Martin.
60:22 Centre by Lionel Ainsworth, clearance by John McCombe.
59:45 Centre by Louis Dodds.
59:23 Unfair challenge on Robert Taylor by Jermaine Grandison results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gary Roberts.
57:32 Corner taken by Gary Roberts played to the near post, Shot by Tom Pope from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
56:47 Ian Sharps gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Pope. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.
56:47 Booking Caution for Ian Sharps.
55:32 Mark Wright challenges Louis Dodds unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Martin.
55:32 Booking Mark Wright goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
54:24 Robert Taylor produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Marc Richards misses to the left of the goal.
Correction - 52:22 A cross is delivered by Lionel Ainsworth. Corner taken by Jon Taylor from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Sam Morsy.
52:22 The ball is sent over by Lionel Ainsworth, Jon Taylor takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Sam Morsy.
50:47 The ball is delivered by Lionel Ainsworth.
48:11 Louis Dodds takes a shot. Save by Benjamin Smith.
45:01 The second half has started.
45:01 Substitution Kris Taylor leaves the field to be replaced by Robert Taylor.
45:01 Substitution Gary Roberts on for Lewis Haldane.
Half Time
45:00+1:17 The first half comes to an end.
44:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kris Taylor on Jon Taylor. Direct free kick taken by Ian Sharps.
44:16 Jon Taylor delivers the ball.
43:19 Jermaine Grandison delivers the ball, save made by Chris Martin.
41:49 The referee blows for offside against Marc Richards. Benjamin Smith restarts play with the free kick.
41:11 Sam Morsy takes a shot. Blocked by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.
40:06 Mark Wright produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes wide left of the goal.
40:01 Mat Sadler sends in a cross, Kris Taylor manages to make a clearance.
39:33 Corner taken right-footed by Jon Taylor to the near post, Exodus Geohaghon makes a clearance.
39:28 Jon Taylor sends in a cross, Kris Taylor makes a clearance.
37:49 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Taylor played to the near post, clearance made by James Collins.
35:52 Louis Dodds is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Benjamin Smith.
34:22 A cross is delivered by Jon Taylor, James Collins takes a shot. Clearance made by Lee Collins. Corner taken right-footed by Jon Taylor from the right by-line to the near post, Ian Sharps takes a shot. Save by Chris Martin.
33:51 Marc Richards challenges Ian Sharps unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Benjamin Smith.
Correction - 33:32 James Collins is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Chris Martin takes the free kick.
33:32 The official flags James Collins offside. Chris Martin takes the free kick.
29:45 GOAL - Lionel Ainsworth:Shrewsbury 1 - 1 Port Vale Lionel Ainsworth finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Shrewsbury 1-1 Port Vale.
28:42 Kris Taylor provided the assist for the goal.
28:42 GOAL - Marc Richards:Shrewsbury 0 - 1 Port Vale Marc Richards grabs a headed goal from close in. Shrewsbury 0-1 Port Vale.
28:06 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lewis Haldane by Mat Sadler. Direct free kick taken by Kris Taylor.
27:15 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ian Sharps on Marc Richards. Kris Taylor takes the free kick.
27:02 Centre by Jon Taylor, clearance by Sam Morsy.
26:25 Jermaine Grandison delivers the ball, Lee Collins makes a clearance.
24:36 Effort from outside the area by Marc Richards goes wide right of the goal.
23:49 Unfair challenge on Tom Pope by Jermaine Grandison results in a free kick. Kris Taylor restarts play with the free kick.
23:27 Lionel Ainsworth delivers the ball, clearance by Kris Taylor.
21:59 Jermaine Grandison sends in a cross.
19:37 Jermaine Grandison delivers the ball.
19:11 Jon Taylor sends in a cross.
17:33 Sam Morsy delivers the ball, Ian Sharps makes a clearance.
16:45 The ball is crossed by Kris Taylor, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff manages to make a clearance.
15:26 Lewis Haldane crosses the ball, Sam Morsy takes a shot. Save by Benjamin Smith.
14:35 Outswinging corner taken by Jon Taylor from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Exodus Geohaghon.
13:14 Shot from just outside the area by Jon Taylor goes over the bar.
12:27 Unfair challenge on Kris Taylor by David Davies results in a free kick. Chris Martin takes the direct free kick.
11:38 The ball is sent over by Jermaine Grandison, Kris Taylor makes a clearance.
10:57 The ball is swung over by Lionel Ainsworth, clearance made by John McCombe.
9:22 Adam Yates crosses the ball, Mat Sadler manages to make a clearance.
8:18 Sam Morsy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Davies. James Collins crosses the ball in from the free kick, Ian Sharps manages to make a clearance.
6:56 The ball is sent over by Jermaine Grandison.
3:22 The ball is crossed by Lewis Haldane, Benjamin Smith manages to make a clearance.
1:59 David Davies takes a shot.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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