NEW signing Warren Patmore scored on his Nationwide Conference debut for Margate to give them a deserved draw at Shrewsbury on Saturday.

It was great result for the Gate against the team relegated from the Football League last season and who are favourites to win the Conference title.

Despite playing against full-time opponents, Margate looked the stronger in the closing stages and most likely to go on to win the game.

For the first 15 minutes of each half Shrewsbury played the ball around well with their main threat coming from £1m-rated striker Luke Rogers.

But Margate played well defensively and their keeper Phil Smith only had to really extend himself a couple of times.

The home side were able to break through in the 21st minute. John Keister lost the ball and Shrewsbury’s Jamie Tolley raced 60 yards before crossing to Steve Watts, who powered a firm header past Smith.

Shrewsbury deserved to go a goal up on the run of play but Margate started to put some good moves together and should have scored in the 30th minute.

A cross from Terry McFlynn was nodded across goal by Patmore to Jean-Michel Sigere, who headed the ball into the ground allowing keeper Ian Dunbavin to get his fingertips to it.

The visitors were fortunate not to go two down when mistakes by Jake Leberl and Darren Annon let Rogers in on twice. His first shot went straight at Smith and the other over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time an excellent run by Greg Oates ended with him putting in a telling cross to Patmore. He headed the ball back to McFlynn on edge of the area but he shot over the bar.

The second half started like first. Shrewsbury had possession, although the only real chances were a free header from a corner by Steve Watts, that went over the bar, and when a slip by Graham Porter let in Watts only for Smith to save his shot.

Margate created bits and pieces and two throughballs from Keister were just too long for Sigere and Flynn.

And, on 65 minutes, a Jay Saunders cross found Patmore on the edge of the six-yard box but his header went across goal and wide.

Che Stadhart’s introduction from the bench meant Margate went with three up front and started to cause the home side real problems.

They got the deserved equaliser in the 83rd minute when a corner by Adrian Clarke was headed straight back to him. Patmore lost marker and, as the cross came back in, he connected with a looping header that went over Dunbavin and into the net.

MARGATE: Smith, Oates, Leberl, O’Connell (Clarke 64mins) , Porter, Annon, Saunders, Keister (Beard 80mins), McFlynn (Stadhart 74mins), Patmore, Sigere. Subs not used: Pullman, Mitten.