September
06/09/08: Notts County 1-1 AFC Bournemouth
September began where August left off, with the Magpies all-new style of passing football yielding improved performances, but not victories.
Notts were frustrated at Meadow Lane by some inspired goalkeeping from visiting stopper Shwan Jalal, who produced outstanding saves to deny Myles Weston and Mike Edwards after Jamie Forrester had given Notts an early lead, which was cancelled out just seven minutes later.
Notts: Hoult; Beardsley, Edwards, Johnson (Tann), Mayo; Hamshaw, Smith, Butcher, Weston; Facey, Forrester.
13/09/08: Accrington Stanley 1-1 Notts County
Notts drew their fifth successive league game and were denied a win in the most excruciating circumstances at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.
Substitute Sean Canham appeared to have given the Magpies their first league win of the campaign with his first goal for the club in the 89th minute, but Notts switched off and Accrington's James Ryan netted a last-gasp equaliser.
Notts: Hoult; Beardsley, Edwards, Johnson, Mayo; Hamshaw (Fairclough), Smith, Butcher, Weston; Facey (Canham), Forrester.
20/09/08: Exeter City 2-2 Notts County
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Club captain Michael Johnson levelled ex Magpie Matt Gill's opener, but Matt Taylor's 87th minute volley looked to be sending Ian McParland's side to their second defeat of the campaign.
That was until Canham netted for the second successive week, heading home against his former club after sterling work by the impressive Matt Hamshaw.
Notts: Hoult; Beardsley, Tann, Johnson, Clapham; Hamshaw, Smith (Strachan), Butcher, Weston; Facey, Forrester (Canham).
27/09/08: Notts County 2-1 Aldershot Town
Notts manager Ian McParland dedicated Notts' long-awaited first win of the campaign to former boss Jimmy Sirrel, who had passed-away earlier that week, on an emotional afternoon at Meadow Lane.
Fans flocked from far and wide in Notts' second biggest home gate of the season to pay tribute to the much-loved Scot, as the Meadow Lane gates became a shrine to the club's all-time legend.
On the pitch, Johnson - the only player currently on the books to work under Sirrel in any capacity - scored his second goal of the month to equalise Anthony Charles' opener, before Richard Butcher popped-up with a 94th minute winner, a goal which sent an already emotional Kop Stand into raptures.
Notts: Hoult; Beardsley, Edwards, Johnson, Clapham; Hamshaw, Strachan (Smith), Butcher, Weston; Facey (Canham), Forrester (Weir-Daley).
October (Part One)
04/10/08: Port Vale 1-2 Notts County
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Forrester gave Notts a sixth-minute lead before Anyon brilliantly denied Hamshaw, Delroy Facey and Forrester the chance to double the visitors' advantage.
It looked set to be the ultimate hard luck tale as Luke Prosser gave Vale a completely undeserved 48th minute equaliser, but a cleverly worked corner saw Myles Weston (pictured right) net his first league goal for the club and give Notts the deserved win, though there was still time for Facey to miss his second open goal of the game as he continued to seek that elusive first goal for the club.
Notts: Hoult; Tann, Edwards, Johnson, Clapham; Hamshaw, Strachan, Butcher, Weston; Facey, Forrester (Smith).
13/10/08: Notts County 1-1 Brentford
It's hard to believe that 19 places would seperate these two teams at the season's end, as the two could not be split in what was a vastly even game, played out in front of the Sky TV cameras.
Glen Poole's excellently-struck drive gave eventual-Champions Brentford a half-time lead, but a slightly-dubious penalty award allowed Forrester the chance to strike for the second successive game, a chance he duly converted to give the Magpies a deserved point.
Notts: Hoult; Tann, Edwards, Johnson, Clapham; Hamshaw, Strachan, Butcher, Weston; Facey, Forrester (Canham).
Elsewhere...
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Fans, players and managers paid tribute to the charasmatic Scot, who enjoyed three fantastically successful spells in-charge at Meadow Lane.
Sirrel's funeral took place on the 7th October, with Sir Alex Ferguson, Howard Wilkinson and Nigel Worthington among the mourners at St Mary's Church. Current boss Ian McParland - brought to the club as a player by Sirrel - was among the pall-bearers as Notts County said goodbye to its greatest ever manager.
Notts secured the signing of veteran full-back Jamie Clapham on a short-term contract. The former Premiership defender, who had been without a club since leaving Leicester City in the summer, immediately replaced Paul Mayo in the Magpies starting Xl.
Out of favour midfielder Neil MacKenzie joined Conference outfit Kidderminster Harriers on a month's loan.
On-loan full-back Jason Beardsley was ruled out for a month with a thigh injury, having previously been one of the Magpies best early-season performers.
For the continuation of our season review, be sure to stay tuned to NCM in the upcoming days.