Exeter squandered a chance to collect three precious points at home to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury when missing a late penalty in the draw at St James Park.

The hosts went ahead midway through the first half.

A long ball from Martin Thomas found Steve Flack and he cleverly played the ball into the path of Sean Devine.

He skipped round advancing Shrewsbury goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin and drove it into the empty net.

The Shrews looked a much better side in the second half and equalised through Nigel Jemson from the penalty spot after Adrian Whitbread was adjudged to have handled the ball.

But Exeter wasted a fine chance to take three points with 15 minutes left when awarded a penalty of their own, Devine fired the spot-kick over the crossbar.

Exeter: Miller, Hiley, Virgo, Gaia, Whitbread, Pettefer, Walker, Cronin, Thomas, Flack, Devine. Subs: Fraser, Power, McConnell, Moor, Coppinger.

Shrewsbury: Dunbavin, Drysdale, Wilding, Artell, Smith, Aiston, Jamie Tolley, Murray, Woan, Jemson, Lowe. Subs: Hart, Thompson, Van Blerk, Ian Stevens, Murphy.

Referee: L Cable (Surrey)