Despite being free of relegation worries, there was a distinct lack of confidence about this Shrewsbury display and it suggested manager Paul Simpson is in for very busy close season as the club quickly attempt to forget a wretched second half to this current campaign - that has only brought two league wins since the turn of the year.
While the home side had the greater share of possession and created the better goalscoring opportunities, they could not find a breakthrough during this often ragged, untidy encounter which secured a precious point for Chester who edged themselves closer to League Two safety.
Despite making a bright start, during which midfield man Kevin McIntyre brought a diving save from Chester keeper John Danby, it was the visitors who went closest to snatching the lead – when, in the ninth minute, Paul McManus fired an angled drive against a Shrewsbury post, an effort that amounted to Chester's only significant attempt on goal all afternoon.
After the break Shrewsbury continued to press with McIntyre and striker Guy Madjo both going close and, with young winger Chris Humphrey giving the Chester defence a hard time, it was always the home side who looked the most likely to score.
But the Chester defence, in which skipper Paul Linwood was excellent, held firm. They did, however, breathe a sigh of relief when former Deva Stadium man and Shrewsbury skipper Ben Davies - roundly jeered all afternoon by the visiting support - fired over from the edge of the box with 13 minutes left.
At the death, more good work from Humphrey resulted in Madjo heading over from eight yards, as Shrewsbury's season grinds to a weary conclusion.