ShrewsTRUST Man of the Match
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Notts County: Kasper Schmeichel, Matt Ritchie (Akinbiyi, 76), Mike Edwards, Graeme Lee, John Thompson (c), Lee Hughes, Ben Davies, Luke Rodgers, Craig Westcarr (Bishop, 39), Johnnie Jackson, Daniel JonesSubs: Russell Hoult, Matt Hamshaw, Ricky Ravenhill, Neal Bishop, Karl Hawley, Jamie Clapham, Ade Akinbiyi
Goal: Lee 86
Town: Steve Phillips, Dean Holden, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Kelvin Langmead, Graham Coughlan (c), Lewis Neal, Paul Murray, Kevin McIntyre, Jamie Devitt (Labadie, 70), Dave Hibbert (Elder, 77), Waide Fairhurst (Robinson, 66)
Subs: Chris Neal, Jake Robinson, Nathan Elder, Steve Leslie, Harry Hooman, Jake Simpson, Joss Labadie
Goal: Devitt 30
Attendance: 7.562 (1,046 from Shrewsbury)
Referee: Mr P Taylor
Assistants: Mr S Duncan and Mr C Knowles
4th Official: Mr J Adcock
Martin Wild reports from Meadow Lane
Town make one change to the side that beat Aldershot last time out. Nathan Elder's goal hasn't done enough to secure him a start, with Dave Hibbert returning after an Achilles problem has kept him out for three matches.
The expectation around Meadow Lane increased this week with the appointment of Hans Backe as manager, and the Swede was given a rousing reception from the County fans just before kick-off. Graeme Lee, Ben Davies and Luke Rodgers, all line-up against their one-time employers, to give the game some added spice. There's a big crowd on and Salop have brought good numbers across the A38.
The home side kicked-off and were attacking the huge Kop end of Meadow Lane, which was almost fully populated by County fans, presumably still pinching themselves after the events of the summer turned this club on its head almost overnight.
It was a really quiet opening ten minutes but then burst into life with the Magpies appealing loudly for a penalty. Kelvin Langmead got into a bit of a tangle when faced with a hopeful punt forward, and Rodgers was onto it in a flash. The diminutive striker appealed to handle as he tried to bring the ball under control, and though he went to ground the referee waved away the claims.
In quick succession Craig Westcarr tested Steve Phillips from distance, and Rodgers fired high over the top from a tight angle to the right hand side of the area.
County were beginning to assert themselves and putting increasing pressure on the Shrews back-line. In Rodgers and Lee Hughes, they have a front pairing that is plenty capable of delivering the goods and getting Notts out of this division at the first attempt. And if they should falter at any time, then there's always Karl Hawley and Ade Akinbiyi as back-up!
Paul Simpson would have sent his side out with clear instructions to keep things tight in the opening twenty, so from that perspective it was mission accomplished. Shrews had had brief moments of possession and were passing the ball around well, but it was the hosts who continued to press with Town on the back-foot for long periods.
Kasper Schmeichel made a fabulous stop when Shrewsbury launched a rare foray into opposition territory, with Lewis Neal the man to be denied, and then Davies flashed one wide at the other end after capitalising on a poor clearance from Paul Murray.
After the pedestrian opening, the game had a really good tempo to it with both sides playing plenty of attractive football for the big crowd to admire. And bang on the half-hour, Shrews went in front.
There was some good build-up play involving Hibbert and Neal which brought Dean Holden into play, and the defender's probing cross led to some unusually sloppy defending at the heart of the County defence. The ball broke for the lurking Jamie Devitt who wrong-footed Schmeichel to coolly find the corner from around 12 yards. The youngster wheeled away in delight as the travelling Salopians celebrated wildly on the far side.
County were stunned, having beaten all but Burton and Torquay in their opening seven games at Meadow Lane since the money men of Munto Finance took up residence. But Town were pretty good value for money.
Backe must have seen something he didn't like because a bewildered - and openly furious - Westcarr was replaced six minutes from the break by Neal Bishop. One would suspect that the midfielder's obvious show of petulance, and subsequent stomp down the tunnel would have done little to impress the new boss.
It had been a magnificent display from the away side and they took a slender lead into the half-time dressing rooms.
Half-Time: 0-1
County came out of the traps quickly at the restart and won their first corner of the game three minutes in when Phillips did well to push away Rodgers' cross-cum-shot. Davies swung over the flag-kick, and the terrific pace and whip he put on the ball eluded everyone in the six yard box before going out of play.
Davies of course is renowned for his set-piece technique and from a free-kick on the near side touchline, Hughes headed back across goal with Town somewhat fortunate to escape, as Shane Cansdell-Sherriff inadvertently diverted the ball just a foot or so wide.
Notts were bright and inventive but again Salop's brief would have been to silence the glory-hungry supporters in the opening exchanges. They hadn't managed to do that just yet but the pressure remained fully on the Nottingham club.
Hibbert tested Schmeichel when he pulled away from the last defender to meet another superb Holden cross. The Dane went full length but it was fairly routine in the end. A word of praise for Holden: his contribution in the opening hour was little short of immense.
Hughes wasted a glorious chance to level for the Magpies when a low cross from Davies fell at his feet, and although the former West Brom hitman got his shot away, Phillips did well to block.
Then Town had a breakaway that ended with Waide Fairhurst being stopped in his tracks around 25 yards from goal. Neal curled the ball just fractionally over the crossbar with Schmeichel struggling to get across.
Simpson made a change midway through the half with Fairhurst withdrawn and Jake Robinson introduced to partner Hibbert.
County were still knocking at the door but Shrewsbury's defending continued to frustrate, and that was keeping the Notts fans relatively quiet.
Town made a second change with twenty minutes left. Goalscorer Devitt was replaced by Joss Labadie to put a little bit of extra steel into the midfield.
The game really opened up and from yet another Holden centre, Robinson missed the header but did enough to confuse Schmeichel who could only push the ball out to Hibbert. The returning top scorer looked to have a simple tap-in but failed to beat a retreating defender or this game could have been over.
County responded and had another huge penalty shout when Rodgers again tumbled under another Langmead challenge.
The atmosphere went up a good few notches with the home supporters sniffing an equaliser, but the thousand-strong travelling army responded in kind. This was a magnificent advert for League Two football.
Backe went with a three-man attack with Akinbiyi coming on for full-back Matt Ritchie, and Hibbert came off for Elder with the clock moving towards the last ten minutes.
Akinbiyi was soon in the thick of it and a low drive from fifteen yards was well held by Phillips low to his left. And then a free-kick in Davies territory was taken by Johnnie Jackson instead and we all puffed our cheeks out in collective relief.
The relief didn't last long as Town switched off with four minutes left. Rodgers crossed and Lee - in loads of space at the back post - thundered the equaliser past Phillips.
Lee almost turned villain moments later but his terrible clearance was eventually cleared as Labadie tried to take advantage.
The noise around this place was like a European arena and merely added to the occasion. Perhaps it was best that both sides took something out of the game, as players and fans alike had given their very all.
Today may well be Halloween but make no mistake about it - this was anything but a horror showing by Shrewsbury Town's fully committed players. And boy, had they given free-spending Notts one hell of a fright!
Full-Time: 1-1
