NOTTS County rescued a draw against Shrewsbury Town in dramatic style today at Meadow Lane – and so extended their unbeaten start to the season on home soil to an impressive eight games.

They trailed at half-time at Meadow Lane for the first time this season, after falling behind to Jamie Devitt's first half strike.

But they decisively levelled in the second half through defender Graeme Lee.

The visitors had two attempts in the early stages as Dean Holden fired over the crossbar from long range and Dave Hibbert then headed wide of the far post from eight yards minutes later.

Craig Westcarr got the first sight of goal for Notts on 12 minutes and forced Steve Phillips into a good save. The visitors' keeper held his 20-yard effort confidently, low down to his right.

Luke Rodgers, who was typically lively up front, then blazed wildly over the crossbar from an acute angle, before Holden was involved again, cutting inside onto his left foot and dragging a shot wide of Kasper Schmeichel's left-hand post.

With both sides showing enormous attacking intent and creating chances to take the lead it was an entertaining encounter.

The visitors threatened on 23 minutes when former Magpies' loanee Lewis Neal seized onto Kevin McIntyre's dangerous cross and fired powerfully at goal. Schmeichel reacted rapidly to parry it away and Graeme Lee completed the clearance.

Playing against his former club, Ben Davies rifled wide in reply for Notts soon after.

Shrewsbury took the lead on the half-hour mark when the ball fell to Devitt inside the box. Unchallenged, the winger drove a low right-footed shot past Schmeichel.

It was only the second time this season that the Magpies had fallen behind at home – and it led to a tactical change as Neal Bishop replaced Westcarr, who stormed off down the tunnel.

Davies was switched to right midfield and Bishop joined Johnnie Jackson in the middle, to give them a greater combative edge.

It was Jackson who went close to equalising in injury time at the end of the first half with a long-range strike that flew narrowly wide of the post.

Notts started the second half brightly and quickly won a corner that Davies swung across the six-yard box. Somehow it eluded everyone and went out harmlessly for a goal-kick.

Lee Hughes then tried to head Davies' free-kick back across goal at the far post, but it was blocked and the Magpies were frustrated.

Still, they put Shrewsbury under pressure and Davies was claiming for a penalty on 56 minutes when he went down in the box following a challenge with Paul Murray, but referee Paul Taylor waved away his protests.

The visitors responded minutes later with Hibbert testing Schmeichel with a header, but the Magpies' No.1 held his effort confidently.

Hughes had Notts' best chance on the hour mark when Davies picked him out with a low cross into the box from the right wing. He hit it first time with his right foot but straight at Phillips.

Jackson again went close on 65 minutes, curling a shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area, before Matt Ritchie sent an overhead kick wide of the target.

Shrewsbury almost doubled their lead minutes later when Schmeichel could only parry a cross into the path of substitute Joss Labadie, who fired quickly at goal. It took a great last-ditch intervention from Lee to deny him and keep Notts in the game.

Ade Akinbiyi was introduced for Ritchie on 76 minutes as Notts switched to a three-man attack, and the big striker was quickly involved. On 81 minutes, he held off his marker on the edge of the box and sent a low shot at goal on the turn, but Phillips was equal to it.

The Magpies levelled on 85 minutes through Lee, as he directed a close-range header past Phillips. He was unmarked as he met Rodgers' cross and made no mistake.

NOTTS: Schmeichel, Thompson, Lee, Edwards, Jones, Westcarr (Bishop, 38), Davies, Jackson, Ritchie (Akinbiyi, 76), Hughes, Rodgers. Subs: Hoult, Clapham, Ravenhill, Hamshaw, Hawley.

SHREWSBURY: Phillips, Holden, Coughlan, Langmead, Cansdell-Sheriff, Devitt (Labadie, 70), Murray, McIntyre, L Neal, Hibbert (Elder, 77), Fairhurst (Robinson, 65). Subs: Leslie, Hooman, Simpson, C Neal.

ATTENDANCE: 7,562 (1,046 away).