City's reserves remain pointless in the Pontin's Holiday League after suffering a third straight defeat at the hands of Shrewsbury at Liberty Way last night.

The Sky Blues squandered a two-goal half-time lead as the plucky Shrews rallied from behind after the break.

Club skipper Arjan De Zeeuw continued his return from injury, while young striker Donovan Simmonds made his first appearances of the season after suffering ankle ligament damage during a pre-season friendly at Bedworth.

Winger Liam Davis opened the scoring after just 12 minutes when he fired a rocket of a shot into the top corner of the net from just inside the area after good work from midfielder Dave Burtoft.

Steve Ogrizovic's men continued to dominate with Simmonds heading over from a Charlie Barnett cross and Wayne Andrews forcing Shrews' goalkeeper Ryan Esson into a good save with a low drive.

But the former Crystal Palace frontman was not to be denied on the half-hour when he sprinted onto a precise through-ball from Lee Hildreth to confidently slot the ball beyond the outstretched hand of Esson into the bottom corner..

However, a mistake from City 'keeper Danny Ireland gave the visitors a route back into the game moments after the interval.

The Australian stopper fumbled a right-wing corner and substitute Leon Miles was alert to poke the ball into the net amongst a crowd of players.

Simmonds sent a 20-yard effort crashing against the post as the Sky Blues responded, but Shrewsbury levelled on 71 minutes when Stuart Nicholson sprung the offside trap and cooly beat Ireland.

And it went from bad to worse as Nicholson popped up with a winner three minutes from time with a neat finish.  

Coventry: Ireland, Robinson, Francis, Barnett, De Zeeuw, Turner, Burtoft (Marshall, 79), Hildreth, Simmonds, Andrews, Davis. Subs (Not Used): Burgess, Ashraf, Fitzharris, Grandison.

Shrewsbury: Esson, Pyle, Ashton, Ryan, Hall (Miles, 46), Leslie, Humphrey, Wright, Evans (Gray, 78), Nicholson, Burns (Gibson, 81).