Sean Thornton's 30-yard strike earned Shrewsbury a 1-1 draw with fellow pre-season promotion favourites Darlington.

Loanee midfielder earns his side share of the spoils

Sean Thornton's 30-yard strike earned Shrewsbury a 1-1 draw with fellow pre-season promotion favourites Darlington. Defender Alan White's powerful header from Franz Burgmeier's near post free-kick gave the home side the lead after 55 minutes, and the Quakers almost doubled their lead shortly after the hour mark when Liam Hatch headed wide from Neil Austin's whipped free kick. However, former Sunderland and Doncaster midfielder Thorton - on loan from Leyton Orient - had other ideas and his superb long range effort 19 minutes from time dipped over a stranded Simon Brown in the Quakers' goal to earn Paul Simpson's side a much-deserved point.