Richard Butcher popped up with a late equaliser for Notts County to ensure the Magpies claimed a 1-1 draw with Brentford at Meadow Lane.

A scoreless first half was lacking chances, but it was Notts who came the closest with Jason Lee and Matt Somner both firing just wide from outside the box.

The Magpies started the second period strongly, so it was against the run of play when Charlie Ide got away down the right for the visitors just after the hour and crossed for Kevin O'Connor to covert from six yards out.

However, with eight minutes to go Notts' pressure and persistence paid off as Richard Butcher slammed home an equaliser from twelve yards out after he found himself unmarked in the box to slam home from Jay Smith's cross.

The Magpies pushed for a winner and could have even secured the points with Stephen Hunt's late effort from a corner cleared off the line.

Notts' starting line-up saw one change to the side which faced Grimsby in League Two last Saturday, with Adam Tann in for Gary Silk which allowed Lee Canoville to move right-back and Tann into the centre of defence.

In the light but persistent rain it was the away side who kicked things off, but the opening minutes were scrappy and neither side were able to muster a shot in at goal.

The first effort came on twelve minutes after some good football between Canoville, Somner, MacKenzie and Parkinson worked an opening for Somner on his left foot from the edge of the box, but he blasted just wide against his former club.

Jason Lee almost fired Notts ahead with a tremendous effort, using some neat skill to collect the ball and turn some twenty-five yards out. On the turn he curled his effort towards goal, which was inches over the crossbar with Hamer scrambling across his goal after being taken by surprise with the effort. Minutes later he came close again, this time heading Mayo's centre just wide.

The rain was making it difficult for both teams on a perfect pitch at Meadow Lane, but Notts were looking the stronger in the early stages.

On the half-hour mark Glenn Poole blazed high and wide for the visitors with their first real opportunity of any note when well placed in the box. He even had the option to lay the ball off to two team-mates in the box, but clearly chose the wrong option.

Charlie Ide headed wide just before the break for the visitors with their best effort; beating Mayo in the air from Poole's left-wing cross but he was just off target with Pilkington having the effort covered.

The first period provided no shots on target for either side; highlighting the areas for improvement in the second half.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Brentford

Notts began the second period with Myles Weston on for Lawrie Dudfield in attack, and Notts immediately started strongly and a forceful run from full-back by Canoville saw the former Boston defender fire a good ball across the box towards the head of Jason Lee which was bravely headed away for a corner by Brentford Captain John Mackie.

The wet surface almost worked in Notts' favour eight minutes into the second period as Canoville's driven cross skipped up and hit Stephen Hunt on the shin when attempting to control the ball and skidded away from the defender's feet - only to shade the side netting with Hamer beaten in the Brentford goal.

With ten minutes gone in the second half Somner was replaced by Jay Smith in a straight swap in the midfield, an ambitious move by Notts boss Steve Thompson to go with three attacking midfield players in the middle of the park.

The move saw Notts keep up the second-half pressure, but on 62 minutes it was the Bees who took the lead. A ball down the right found Ide who advanced into the box and laid the ball across the box into the path of O'Connor who from six yards out simply tapped the ball into the net.

That goal prompted Sam to replace Parkinson up front in a straight swap with Notts' final substitution. Jay Smith almost brought Notts level with a crashing right-foot effort just a few minutes after the goal after the ball fell to him to the right-hand edge of the penalty area, but with the ball destined to find its way into the top corner Hamer made a superb save and turned the ball away for a corner.

A spell of around four minutes delayed play whilst two Brentford players received treatment, but when play started it was again Notts looking strong but when Weston's cross picked out Butcher in the box he hit the ball into the ground and into the grateful hands of Hamer.

Notts were pushing but just unable to get an effort in against a resolute Bees side who were desperate to hold onto their lead. Pilkington made an easy save from a Moore free-kick as the final ten minutes commenced.

An the pressure and willingness to get forwards was rewarded eight minutes from time as a ball into the box from Smith from deep found its way to Butcher some twelve yards out in a similar position to where he had fired straight at Hamer minutes earlier, but this time he made no mistake with a fizzing left-foot drive low beyond Hamer and into the bottom corner to score his first Notts goal.

The ascendancy was with Notts and Lee came close to giving Notts the lead with a header with five to go, but Hamer saved well under pressure. A corner from MacKenzie almost provided a winner with four to go, but Hunt's effort and Canoville's rebound effort were scrambled off the line.

A late grandstand finish saw both sides push for the winner, and Notts can take great heart from their late efforts which saw some really exciting attacking play. Of course, Steve Thompson will see areas to improve on at this early stage, but lets remember Notts are unbeaten in the League so far. Taking the Brentford goal out of the equation, the second period was virtually all Notts, and now the Magpies will be looking to turn the pressure into goals.

Full Time: Notts County 1-1 Brentford

Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville, Tann, Hunt, Mayo, Somner (Smith 56), Butcher, MacKenzie, Lee (C), Dudfield (Weston 46), Parkinson (Sam 65).
Subs Not Used: Silk, Weir-Daley.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Butcher (82).

Brentford: Hamer, O'Connor, Basey (Peters 74), Moore, Mackie (C), Poole (Tillen 89), Mousinho, Ide, Osborne, Starosta, Pettigew.
Subs Not Used: Masters, Smith, Heywood.
Booked: Hamer, Moore.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: O'Connor (63).

Match Referee: Mr E Ilderton

Attendance: 4,670 (446 Brentford Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Lee Canoville