Notts showed the whole world live on Sky Sports that this team can mix it up with the best teams in the league. The match was played infront of 6,012 fans.
The top of the Kop was closed for a camera behind the goal, so late comers had to walk across the pitch to get to the Derek Pavis stand. Thousands of fans taking up the club’s offer of bring a friend for free and £5 to get into the stands behind the goal. Chairman John Armstrong Holmes should be pleased that this experiment worked and hopefully Notts can keep enticing stay away fans back to Fortress Meadow Lane.
When was the last time Notts had over 6 thousand for a weekday match?! All this added to a superb atmosphere which was encouraged with delightful “Juve” style football, with wingers Matty Hamshaw and Myles Weston at their best.
Notts dominated the first half an hour with Hamshaw’s fine strike saved well by Ben Hamer and then after great harrowing down by Weston who teed up Delroy Facey to curl a right footed shot which the Bees ‘keeper acrobatically saved.Facey was having his best game in a Notts shirt. He showed his strength, power and the ability to hold the ball up. It was a master class of the “Heskey” role. In his recent displays he deserves a goal.
It was then on the 36th minute the Bees took an undeservedly lead. Notts seemed to have cleared the danger but then a ball sprayed out wide to MacDonald who cut the ball back past Clapham , Edwards and Johno for the onrushing Glenn Poole to easily guide the ball past Hoult who had no chance.
To Notts credit there heads didn’t drop and continued to pass it for fun.
The second half Notts once again dominated with Jamie Clapham’s 30-yard left foot piledriver hitting the woodwork. It would be an absolutely awesome goal and sitting right behind it , it looked in all the way.
Edwards then headed straight at the ‘keeper and Johno headed over. It seemed that Notts couldn’t get that goal that they quite clearly deservered.
However with 25 minutes remaining the youngest referee in the football league Michael Oliver gave Notts a lifeline. Adam Tann on the byline firmly crossed which hit Poole’s arm which wasn’t by his side. The whole Kop outcry of “HANDBALL” probably swayed the refs mind. It was a harsh decision.
Jamie Forrester scored his fourth goal of the season as he sent the ‘keeper the wrong way. (SEE VIDEO ABOVE)
Notts kept the pressure on in the final stags but couldn’t find a goal. Hamshaw came closest with Hamer once again saving at his near post.
However Notts nearly gave it all away in the final seconds when a miskicked shot fell into the path of Poole who agonisingly shot inches past the far post.
It certainly is a useful point for Notts who are now 9-unbeaten and face Macclesfield on Saturday at the Lane. However it will only be a useful point if Notts can beat the Macc and get back on the winning trail.
It will also be interesting to see how many of the fans come back at the weekend.
Man of the Match: Delroy
Song of the Game: Notts version of the Sex Pistol – Anarchy. “I am a County Fan, I am from Nottingham…”
2 comments:
Erm, we lost quite badly to Man City 7-1, live on Sky 1998. So unbeaten at all!!
Jimmybone,
Ha ha. Yeah sorry didn't mean it like that. Changed the headline now. I remember watching that game on Sky. I believe Steve Torpey scored our goal at Maine Road.
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