We take a look at how the watching press viewed our 1-1 draw at Morecambe on Saturday afternoon.

Richard Butcher's goal put Notts ahead just before the half-hour mark; but the home side drew level with twenty minutes to go through Carl Baker - but it was a well-earned point for the Magpies.

Nottingham Evening Post Report by James Pallatt

There is a statue of legendary comedian Eric Morecambe on the seafront, not too far from Christie Park.

It bears inscriptions, one of which is 'Bring me sunshine'.

The long-awaited return of County defender Mike Edwards for his first appearance of the season after a terrible injury was certainly a ray of brilliant light for Magpies' boss Ian McParland and the travelling band of supporters.

So too, was the first-half goal from leading scorer Richard Butcher - incredibly, his ninth of the season - that put the Magpies ahead and inspired hope of only a second away win of the season, the first since beating Accrington Stanley 2-0 on November 3.

Edwards made an impressive return alongside Stephen Hunt in the heart of the Notts' defence, as captain Adam Tann was switched to right-back in place of the suspended Lee Canoville.

The rapturous reception he received from the 400-plus fans as he warmed-up with his team-mates before kick-off, and when his name was read out, signalled his significance to the Magpies' cause. His performance reinforced that.

He did not look like a player who had been out of first-team action since July, quite the opposite. He was solid and assured with both his timing and positioning, making vital interceptions to deny Morecambe's lively strike pairing of Michael Twiss and Matthew Blinkhorn.

And he came so close to making it a dream return with a second-half header that was cleared off the goal-line. It would have made it 2-0 to Notts and given them decisive daylight.

Instead, Carl Baker - who was the Shrimps' biggest threat - struck to level the game and deny them back-to-back wins.

In truth, it was a reward the home side's second-half display deserved as they wrestled command of the game from Notts after the interval.

McParland was disappointed having to share the spoils. He was upset with his side's defending for the equaliser and their inability to hang on to a narrow lead, but a point against a team chasing the play-offs is a good one and gives County an opportunity to build further unbeaten momentum at Brentford tomorrow night.

It was Baker who got the first sight of goal in the opening minutes as he unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the area that Notts keeper Kevin Pilkington held well.

Jason Lee directed a shot wide of the target in reply on six minutes, after controlling a clever pass from Gavin Strachan with his back to goal inside the area. He turned his marker well but his effort was tame.

Pilkington was called into action two minutes later when Stewart Drummond crossed the ball into the area and David Artell rose to direct a header at goal at the far post.

Baker went close to breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes when he seized on a cushioned header from Damien Allen inside the box and fired a low effort at goal, but Pilkington showed great agility to parry the ball.

The significance of his save became almost immediately clear as Butcher put Notts ahead six minutes later with an elegant effort just outside the area.

The ball was deflected into his path after Gary Silk had put a Shrimps' defender under pressure and he made no mistake, curling the ball past Shwan Jalal and into the top right corner of the net.

The goal stunned the Shrimps and gave Notts confidence, and they ended the first half well on top.

They forced two corners in quick succession in the closing minutes that Felix Bastians whipped in dangerously. The first was defended well at the near post by Danny Adams under pressure from Edwards, and the second was cleared uneasily to safety.

The roles were reversed at the start of the second half as Morecambe put early pressure on the Magpies' rearguard. Butcher was forced to concede a corner from a Twiss cross and Pilkington punched the flag-kick clear.

Twiss then fired well over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.

But the Magpies weathered the early storm and countered through Bastians. He won a corner that Butcher swung in and Edwards met with a firm header, only to see it cleared off the goal-line.

Still, they tried to double their advantage and Artell had to be alert to clear a low cross from Lawrie Dudfield just before the hour mark, with Jason Lee in a good position to finish from point-blank range.

Baker was involved again on 62 minutes, putting one effort wide of the target and seeing another blocked by Tann after substitute Garry Thompson had surged past Butcher and given him the ball just inside the box.

The Morecambe midfielder made it 1-1 on 72 minutes, with a venomous strike from inside the penalty area that flew past Pilkington. He pounced on a loose ball, as the Magpies were slow to react, and the sheer pace of his effort left the Notts' keeper with no chance.

McParland brought the tiring Bastians off for Myles Weston three minutes later, but he failed to make much of an impact as Notts faded.

It was the home side which ended the game on top, and Garry Hunter went the closest to inflicting a defeat on the Magpies with an effort that went just wide of the post in the closing minutes. It would have been a cruel end.

Lancashire Evening Post Report

Carl Baker strike rescued a point for Sammy McIlroy's promotion chasers.

David Artell had a header saved early on and Carl Baker had a fine shot tipped around the post on 22 minutes.

But Notts County stunned the home side when Richard Butcher curled home a beauty from 25 yards just six minutes later.

Carl Baker looked the most likely to drag the home side back into the game and so it proved when he smashed home the equaliser from 12 yards with 72 minutes on the clock.

Gary Hunter and Garry Thompson both went close as Morecambe pushed for a winner but they had to settle for a point.