Stockport opened brightly, although it did take them nine minutes to create the first decent chance.
Liam Dickinson played in Anthony Pilkington, but his shot was parried to
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The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute with a controversial goal. Richard Butcher floated over a free-kick from the left, and Notts' centre-back Mike Edwards touched the ball home at the far post, despite him appearing to know little about his effort.
The Stockport players were incensed as they questioned whether all of the ball had crossed the goal-line.
Lawrie Dudfield went close to a second for Notts when his shot was saved by Conrad Logan, but it was Stockport who went on to equalise on 22 minutes.
Pilkington crossed low from the right, and in raced teenager Tommy Rowe who flicked the ball neatly over keeper Pilkington and into the goal.
County striker Ryan Jarvis saw a 33rd minute shot comfortably saved by Logan, before Stockport full-back Michael Rose curled a free-kick inches wide in first-half stoppage time.
Rowe saw a shot deflected wide for a corner seconds after the restart, before Pilkington fired just wide from 20 yards after a great run.
Gary Dicker's far-post header went wide for Stockport, while at the other end Ali Gibb smashed a wild shot disappointingly over from 15 yards.