Notts. County 1 Shrewsbury Town 1

Last updated : 09 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Derek Asamoah, so often in the past a tormentor to Notts County defenders, turned up again at Meadow Lane and turned on another performance of the same vintage.

In his first start for Shrewsbury Town Asamoah, with electric pace and abundant skill, lit up an otherwise pedestrian match which he sometimes threatened not only to take by the scruff of the neck but to win by himself.

Asamoah did not, in fact, get his name on to the score sheet but created a goal 30 seconds into the second half with which the men from the Gay Meadow took the lead. Notts were still sleeping when Asamoah burst through on the right and after one finishing effort had been deflected midfielder Ben Davies latched on to the loose ball and buried it past a helpless Kevin Pilkington.

Notts were quickly back on terms with a goal from a set piece about which Shrewsbury protested - but to no avail. Gary Silk planted the free kick into the Shrewsbury penalty area where central defender Mike Edwards got the faintest of touches to beat Ryan Esson in the Town goal.

Referee Beeby had no hesitation in awarding the goal although there appeared to be a brush between Edwards and Esson which, with other officials, could have produced a free kick for the visitors.

The second half was certainly livlier than the first and Notts felt they had a strong case for a penalty when Junior Mendes was sent sprawling into the area. Mr Beeby, inexplicably, neither gave a penalty nor a yellow card to Mendes for diving.

It did nothing to endear him to the Notts fans who, in the dying moments, were left cheering their own goalkeeper, Kevin Pilkington, for the outstanding save of the match.

After Town had swarmed through dangerously Kelvin Langmead delivered a powerful cross shot to which Pilkington just got fingertips to divert it for a corner.