It has come to something when the Shrimps' supporters can say they are disappointed not to have taken three points from a League Two side.

But that was probably the case as some poor second half finishing cost the Shrimps dearly as the home side sneaked a point with a last-gasp equaliser.

In truth though, they weren't the only side to miss out in front of goal.

The misfiring Magpies had their share of forgettable moments, not least when Hector Sam missed an open goal after just nine minutes when he headed wide Paul Mayo's cross from just six yards out.

Shrimps skipper Jim Bentley perhaps summed the game up as well as anyone when he said: "I'm sure we'd have settled for a point before the game but to lose a goal so late on was a real blow.

"We'd defended really well again and limited them to very few chances.
"To only get a point in the end was devastating. You'd have thought we lost the dressing room was that quiet when we came in."

The game itself was an open one with County starting brightly.

After Sam's golden gaffe, he volleyed wide again from close range under pressure from Shrimps' keeper Joe Lewis before skipper Stephen Hunt headed over the top and Jay Smith volleyed horribly wide.

Morecambe then came into the game with Michael Twiss firing into the side netting with his weaker right foot after a storming run.

But then Twiss popped up to open his account for the season with a goal from another well-worked Morecambe set-piece on 34 minutes.

Craig Stanley floated a free-kick to the far post, Jim Bentley headed back across goal and Twiss was on hand to volley home at the far post.

County came close to scoring an immediate equaliser when Hunt's header was cleared off the line by Adam Yates as the half came to an exciting finish.

The second period began with the Shrimps failing to make the most of a glorious chance of their own when Garry Thompson was put through on goal but dragged his final shot wide of the right-hand post.

County hit back with Yates volleying off the line again from another Hunt effort and then being somewhat fortunate to get away with a big home penalty claim when Mayo went down under his challenge.

That piece of fortune seemed to inspire the Shrimps as they then created several chances in quick succession to seal the game.

Stanley was put on goal by a neat Matty Blinkhorn lay-off but saw his effort well saved by Pilkington.

A Twiss cross flashed inches wide of the left-hand post and both Blinkhorn and Twiss fired over from the edge of the area as Morecambe hurried chances that came their way.

And they were punished when Butcher headed home Mayo's cross with just four minutes to go.


Notts County (0) 1
Butcher 86


Morecambe (1) 1
Twiss 34

Coca Cola Football League Two
Saturday, September 1
at Meadow Lane

Morecambe


Lewis 7

Yates 7

Artell 8

Bentley 7

Adams 7

Thompson 7

Allen 7

Stanley 7

Sorvel 7

Baker 7

Twiss 7

Subs
Blinkhorn (for Allen 66)
Newby (for Baker 70)
Hunter (for Thompson 90)
Unused subs: Drench,
Howard.

Notts County: Pilkington 7, Canonville 7, Hunt 7, Tann 7, McCann 7 (Somner 80), Smith 6 (Frost 70), Mackenzie 7, Butcher 7, Mayo 8, Parkinson 7, Sam 6 (Weir-Daley 61). Unused subs: Sandercombe, Silk.

Att: 4,434
Referee: S Bratt 7
A decent performance

NC Mcbe
On target 5 4
Off target 9 6
Fouls 10 13
Corner 2 2
Offsides 7 6

Starman:
David Artell: Another towering display from the centre-half.