Edwards grabs a point for Magpies

Last updated : 09 August 2006 By Rob Davies
For the Notts fans who didn't make the trip to Lincoln at the weekend, this was the first opportunity to see this brand new team take to the field in competitive action.

Going home, they will have been quietly content with what they witnessed. A draw was undoubtedly the fair result after an even fixture. But, they will also hope that there is much, much more to come from Steve Thompson's team.

Edwards' headed goal was their only real effort on target during the 90 minutes. A well-organised Shrewsbury outfit - marshalled by seasoned lower league campaigner Sagi Burton - comfortably saw off the collective attacking threat that had looked so promising on the season's opener at the weekend.

This is in no-way an intended negative assessment of Steve Thompson's team. Two draws from the opening two fixtures is, by no means a bad return. But, as they proved in the second period on Saturday, they can and will play better than what was produced on the night.

Shrewsbury had the better of what was a subdued first half, with their best moments coming courtesy of the man who always seems to save his best football for when he's up against the Magpies, Derek Asamoah.

The diminutive striker has produced exceptional displays against Notts for Northampton, Mansfield and Lincoln City and, on his full debut for the Shrews, was easily the game's outstanding player.

A sharp turn in the first half on Alan White created the half's best chance, which was fired over by Neil Sorvel from 10 yards.

Edwards: In the goals again
Notts were unable to find any sort of fluidity to their play, but were denied a strong-looking penalty claim when David Pipe appeared to be felled in the box by the retreating Ben Davies.

Though not going to ground under the challenge, Pipe appeared to be clearly impeded by the former Chester player. When Davies subsequently continued to hack away at the County midfielder, the referee awarded Notts a free-kick, a decision that angered both sets of supporters.

The home crowd were hoping their team would emerge from the break a revitalised outfit, just as they had at the weekend, but they were to be disappointed when the visitors took a deserved lead just 30 seconds in.

Asamoah was the orchestrator, his cross from the right finding Kevin Langmead. Langmead's shot was blocked by White, but the ball fell kindly to Davies who fired home.

Notts fans feared the worst, but their side were to equalise somewhat fortunately just seven minutes later.

Gary Silk's floated cross into the box had seemed out-of-reach of most of his team-mates but Edwards' immaculately timed jump forced a mistake out of goalkeeper Ryan Esson, the defender glancing the ball just over the line.

Notts drawing level through an Edwards goal from a set-piece. Who said things were going to be that different this year?

Both sides threatened to win the game, but both managers seemed fairly content at what they had witnessed.

Tcham N'Toya emerged from the bench to replace the inefective Lawrie Dudfield, but Notts' best work was coming from the inswinging set-pieces of the excellent Austin McCann, White heading over from one of the Scot's right-wing corners.

It was to be Asamoah who would come the closest to grabbing a winner, his brilliant piece of skill taking him away from both White and McCann, before firing in a powerful 18-yarder that Pilkington did tremendously well to save.

It was a rare piece of brilliance in a below-par game. How Notts fans must rue the decision to pass-up signing the pacey hitman in the summer.

Of the strikers signed in his place, Dudfield and Mendes struggled to hold up the ball in the absence of the injured Jason Lee, though the latter did have a decent penalty shout waved away by referee Richard Beeby late-on in the second half.


For individual match ratings on the Notts County players, stay tuned to NCM tomorrow afternoon.