December
06/12/08: Notts County 1-0 Morecambe
A much-improved display from Notts, who had came into the month in their worst form of the campaign.
Sean Canham netted the Magpies winner and the Magpies were more dominant then the overall scoreline suggested. Shame it was to prove yet another false dawn.
Notts: Hoult; Hansen, Edwards, Thompson, Clapham; Forte, Smith, Wedderburn (Strachan), Weston; Facey, Canham (Weir-Daley).
10/12/08: Kettering Town 2-1 Notts County (FA Cup R2 Replay)
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Jay Smith - Notts' best player by an absolute mile on the night - gave the visitors an underserved lead courtesy of a 43rd-minute cracker, but Ian McParland's side were unable to capatalise and were undone by quick-fire second half goals from Brett Solkhon and Gareth Seddon.
In a season full of lowlights, this had to rank among the most disappointing games as Notts missed out on a local derby at home to Eastwood Town in Round Three and a potentially lucrative cup run.
Notts: Hoult; Thompson, Edwards, Hunt, Clapham; Hamshaw (Weir-Daley), Smith, Wedderburn, Weston; Facey, Canham (Forrester).
13/12/08: Chester City 2-0 Notts County
Travelling Notts fans turned on their own team as the Magpies produced their second woeful display inside a week against one of the Division's worst sides.
Goals from Ryan Lowe and Kevin Roberts gave struggling Chester a deserved win as McParland came under serious fire from supporters for the first time. Substitute Jamie Forrester was also sent off in injury-time for a stupid lunge.
Notts: Hoult; Hanson (Edwards), Thompson, Johnson, Clapham; Hamshaw, Smith, Strachan, Weston; Canham (Forrester), Facey.
20/12/08: Notts County 0-1 Lincoln City
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Patulea's winner came after an almighty howler from Kevin Pilkington, recalled between the sticks after an injury to Russell Hoult.
Notts never really looked like getting back into the game, while McParland's team selection was again called into question; Smith left on the bench for the entire game despite being the club's star performer in recent weeks.
Notts: Pilkington; Hanson, Edwards, Johnson, Clapham; Hamshaw, Thompson, Strachan (Nowland), Weston; Canham (Weir-Daley), Facey.
26/12/08: Grimsby Town 0-1 Notts County
A much-needed win for the Magpies, who had chances to beat lowly Grimsby more comfortably.
Delroy Facey scored Notts' winner in the 37th winner, having had it put on a plate following great work by Myles Weston, before strike pairing Facey and Canham both spurned opportunities to give the Magpies breathing space.
Notts: Pilkington; Hanson, Edwards, Johnson (Hunt), Clapham; Hamshaw, Thompson, Strachan, Weston; Canham, Facey.
28/12/08: Notts County 0-3 Rotherham Utd
In what was becoming an all-too familar theme, Notts followed a win with a disappointing defeat as they were well-beaten by Rotherham in-front of their largest crowd of the season.
Admission prices had been slashed to just £5 for Magpies fans but even that looked overpriced as goals from Reuben Reid, Drewe Broughton and Micky Cummins ensured another miserable afternoon and meant that Notts were already languishing 12 points below the playoff positions in the League Two table.
Notts: Pilkington; Hanson (Smith), Edwards, Hunt, Clapham; Hamshaw, Strachan (Nowland), Thompson, Weston; Canham, Facey.
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Despite growing unrest, 68% of NCM readers backed boss Ian McParland, stating their belief that he was still the right man for the job.
Goalkeeper Russell Hoult was ruled-out of action for two months with a shoulder injury. The injury would ultimately spell an early end to the season for the veteran stopper.
Jonathan Forte returned to Scunthorpe after his one-month loan spell expired. The striker netted a debut on his hat-trick at Barnet but was played out-of-position in his later games.
Chairman John Armstrong-Holmes threw his weight behind McParland, stating that he 'was under no pressure whatsoever.'
For the continuation of NCM's season review, as Notts' fortunes take a slight upturn in January, stay tuned to the site in the coming days.