Notts were without the services of Mike Edwards for the first time this season at St James' Park, as the defender failed to shake off a groin injury picked up earlier in the week. He was replaced by Adam Tann at the heart of the defence, while new signing Jamie Clapham was handed his debut at left-back in place of Paul Mayo. In the glorious Devonshire sunshine, Notts began brightly and having the majority of the play - but they were unable to fashion a chance to test Jones in the Exeter goal. On seventeen Russell Hoult was called into action to make the save of the game as he thwarted Dean Moxey whose low drive from outside the box was turned away for a corner. From the resultant header Hamshaw had to be on hand at the far post to clear off the line with Hoult beaten by a header in a packed six-yard box. While Exeter had made the better early chances, Notts were dominating in terms of possession and dictating the game with neat passing and movement. But on twenty-two it was the home side celebrating as they took the lead, and predictably it was ex-Notts midfielder Matt Gill coming back to haunt his former employers. He met a deep cross from the right with a firm diving header which flew past Hoult for this third goal in as many games. That goal ebbed away the early momentum which had been mounted by the Magpies, although Hamshaw had a chance to draw Notts level on the break ten minutes before the break but he shot straight at Jones. It was the final chance of a half which was limited in terms of chances.

Notts were clearly subjected to a half-time talking-to from Ian McParland and were out of the traps quickly and Myles Weston's low drive was saved by Jones within a minute of the second period. It was all Notts in the opening minutes and Forrester was denied his third of the season ten yards from goal with Jones making a finger-tip save. At the other end, on fifty-two, Hoult was called into action to make a superb save from Marcus Stewart with his left hand. Notts were continued to put the pressure on and Johnson's looping header from Hamshaw's corner was just off target. But just before the hour Notts, and Johnson, finally got their goal. After a Forrester cross was handled by Taylor, Hamshaw delivered a superb right-wing cross which was met by Johnson with a diving header into the back of the net. It was a deserved equaliser after constant Magpies pressure, and the Captain's second goal in Notts colours. Notts continued to pin the home side back and were looking particularly dangerous from set-pieces, with the Grecians looking nervous under pressure. With fifteen to go Gavin Strachan was introduced into the action for his first appearance of the season, replacing Jay Smith in the middle of the park - and Sean Canham replaced Jamie Forrester soon afterwards. Exeter began to grow in confidence in the latter stages with Gill and Logan testing Hoult's reactions, and three minutes from time the Notts No.1 was beaten for a second time. This time it was Matt Taylor at the far post who had time and space to latch onto a deep cross and smash the ball home. But there was enough time for Sean Canham to net a fairytale equaliser against the side that he began his career with. Matt Hamshaw's mazy run resulted in a shot from the winger which was tipped away by Jones, and Canham was on hand to head into the empty net from a few yards out for his second in as many games in Notts colours.

Exeter City: Jones, Tully, Gill, Seaborne (C), Taylor, Harley, Edwards, Stewart, Watson (Stansfield 69), Moxey, Sercombe (Logan 73)
Booked: Gill, Logan

Notts County: Hoult, Beardsley, Clapham, Johnson (C), Tann, Hamshaw, Butcher, Smith (Strachan 75), Weston, Facey, Forrester (Canham 78)