Notts County extended their unbeaten start and also run on draws in League Two this season thanks to Richard Butcher's header three minutes from time against Morecambe at Meadow Lane.

Bags of early pressure from the Magpies failed to provide the opening goal, with Hector Sam missing a glorious opportunity on ten minutes, and the visitors earned themselves a set-piece ten minutes before the break which they took full advantage of with Michael Twiss turning the ball home from close range.

Despite bags of pressure in the second half Notts were unable to hit the net until with just a few minutes to go when Richard Butcher once again was the hero by heading home Paul Mayo's left wing cross in an eventful last ten minutes.

Notts began the game with two changes to the side which drew 2-2 at Darlington last weekend with Parkinson and Sam in fro Weir-Daley and the ill Lawrie Dudfield who was suffering from sickness overnight.

Morecambe meanwhile were buzzing from their Carling Cup win over Wolves in midweek, and began in confident mood in their first ever visit to Meadow Lane.

The opening ten minutes provided nothing in terms of opportunities, but both teams got the ball down and played some neat football - and it took until the tenth minute for an opportunity to be created, and when it came Hector Sam should really have been celebrating his first Notts County goal.

Parkinson's deep cross was totally misjudged by Lewis in the Morecambe goal and left Sam with an open goal some six yards out, but in trying to guide his header neatly into the net he somehow glanced the ball wide to the amazement of everyone in Meadow Lane.

Notts remained positive though and continued to press for the opener, but a confident Morecambe were in no mood to give anything away at the back although Sam had another good opportunity on seventeen minutes to open the scoring by getting on the end of Jay Smith's diagonal ball, but he fired over with Lewis narrowing the angle and rushing out of his goal.

The visitors had their first shot of the game on twenty-one minutes as Michael Twiss set off on a determined and forceful run past Hunt and Canoville from inside his own half, but Tann stuck to his task well and put the frontman under pressure and he sliced wide.

Moments later at the other end Smith's deep cross from the right caused problems in the Morecambe box which led to MacKenzie lashing a volley at goal from eighteen yards, but Dave Artell's right-leg blocked his goalbound drive.

Notts were having most of the pressure and using the ball well, so it was only a matter of time before they took the lead - or so it was thought.

However, despite having all the pressure it was the Magpies who fell behind on thirty-five minutes. Craig Stanley's deep free-kick to the far post was headed across goal by Morecambe Captain Bentley and that left former Manchester United youngster Michael Twiss the simple opportunity of poking the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors a shock lead.

The goal seemed to rattle Notts a little and they struggled to settle for five minutes or so, possibly with the shock of having all the play and then falling behind. They may not have been behind at the break had a neat corner move paid off three minutes before the interval. MacKenzie's corner to the penalty spot found an unmarked and late arriving Paul Mayo with a low header which was cleared off the line by Yates.

Moments later Parkinson, under pressure from the sliding Bentley, fired just wide as Notts seemed to refind their confidence - but they couldn't draw themselves level before the break.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-1 Morecambe

The visitors had a glorious opportunity to double their lead early in the second half when Thompson found himself clear on goal after exploiting a gap in the Notts defence, but with just Pilkington to beat he fired wide as the Magpies survived a major let-off.

Hunt header over a MacKenzie corner early in the half while Sam fired wide as Notts began to up the pressure - and Steve Thompson opted to introduce Spencer Weir-Daley into the fray in place of Sam in a straight swap up the front on the hour.

Morecambe however were proving to be determined and giving little, if anything away, meaning Notts were having to be patient in waiting for their opportunities.

Notts however were having their patience tested twenty minutes from time with Paul Mayo's advancing run into the box saw him hauled down in the box, but unbelievably the Referee ruled 'no-foul' and the Magpies were up in arms at the decision.

Stef Frost was introduced from the bench for Jay Smith with twenty minutes to go, his first outing since May 2006 against Bury and his first appearance since signing a professional contract back in the summer of 2006.

Pilkington made a fine diving save to deny Twiss a minute later as Morecambe aimed to see off the Magpies, while two minutes later he had to be at his best to deny Stanley who burst through to create a fine opportunity with just the Magpies goalkeeper to beat.

The home faithful were getting increasingly frustrated that the Magpies couldn't break down the visitors, who were sitting deep and snuffing out Notts attacks regularly. Somner replaced McCann with Notts moving to a 4-3-3 formation in the final ten minutes.

Paul Mayo almost opened his Magpies account ten minutes from time with a long-range drive, but he was inches off target.

Notts kept pushing in the final moments which meant spaces appeared at the back, which almost saw Twiss net again with five to go but he was way off target from the edge of the penalty area.

However, with just a few minutes later the man in form Richard Butcher once again came forward to save Notts' blushes. The midfielder rose to meet Paul Mayo's cross with two minutes to go with a towering header into the far corner beyond the reach of Lewis.

Notts were out of the traps quickly from the kick-off and Mayo's long-range drive was well saved by Lewis as Notts pushed for what moments earlier would have seemed like an unlikely win.

Credit to the Magpies, they weren't having the best of times but they stuck to their task and gave everything they could to make sure they weren't beaten. If they keep this sort of spirit in the camp, it won't be too long until they net their first win of the season.