Review of the season... APRIL/MAY

Last updated : 24 May 2008 By Paul Smith and Gary Moss
Notts

Notts started the final full month of the season in their lowest league position of the season, heightening fears of relegation out of the Football League for the very first time.

Those fears increased at the start of April with back to back away defeats in
Lee... Just one goal all season
Greater Manchester as Bury toppled the Magpies 2-1, Danny Crow's equaliser a temporary repreive in a poor effort, before Rochdale hammered four past Russell Hoult in a 4-2 defeat at Spotland.

The significant thing in that game came as Notts finally scored twice in a game for the first time since December with Jason Lee's only goal of the campaign and a late Neil MacKenzie penalty making the scoreline more respectable.

It made the next game incredibly huge as Notts welcomed Accrington Stanley to Meadow Lane, and the big news was that Notts fans were to be housed in the Kop stand for the first time since the ground was redeveloped in the 90s.

It had been a long-term wish of Magpies supporters who felt the huge roof allowed visiting teams an advantage for a long time because of the noise it helped produce, and with special discounted rates Notts fans made the most of the opportunity and roared the black and whites on to a vital three points courtesy of Ryan Jarvis' winner.

It gave Ian McParland's men the opportunity to ensure safety in the following week's trip to bottom side Wrexham, but Notts were undone by a Neil Roberts strike, one that kept the heat on.

Butcher... Hero against Wycombe
With just two games left, against play-off hopefuls Wycombe and away at Chesterfield, Notts were now only two points above the drop zone with Mansfield Town breathing down their necks.

The solution was simple, beat Wycombe at Meadow Lane and Notts were safe. As it happened elsewhere a draw was enough, but Notts delivered three points courtesy of Richard Butcher's twelfth of the season in the second half.

It made the Chesterfield trip in May insignificant, and with nothing to play for McParland made a few changes, bringing back striker Spencer Weir-Daley into the attack and his goal put Notts ahead before the break, but veteran frontman Jack Lester earned the Spireites a share of the spoils.

Following the season there were some important moments as McParland persuaded Michael Johnson to sign a years deal and the Kop was officially made a Notts stand for next season and beyond, thanks in large part to NCM's very own Jayme Sporton whose contribution to the winning of the stand shouldn't be underestimated.

Gary Silk, Andy Parkinson, Lawrie Dudfield, Jason Lee, Lee Canoville, Rob Austin, Matt Somner and Austin McCann left the club at the end of the season as they weren't offered new deals.

Kevin Pilkington picked up the Supporters' Club and Players Player of the Season awards, while Adam Tann was named as the Player of the Season by the management team and Richard Butcher the Junior Magpies Player of the
Kop... Notts fans packed former away end
Season.

He said: Defender Adam Tann on keeping the Kop: "It's tremendous news for the club that the fans will be in the Kop next season. The atmosphere generated in the last two home games has been simply unbelievable. You can feel the fans driving you on when you see them behind that goal, and when you look up and see that sight of that stand quite full it does drive you on."

Player of the Month: Although Johnson was again named NCM's Player of the Month courtesy of an online poll, Myles Weston was an influential figure as the campaign drew to a close. The young wideman made a significant contribution to the Accrington and Wycombe wins, and also created Lee's goal at Rochdale and was Notts' best outfield player at Chesterfield.

Verdict: Safety was secured and that was all that was asked of the players in the final stretch after an abysmal campaign. It was such a relief for all connected with the club when the final whistle blew against Wycombe, and the seasons end was welcomed by all and a chance for a clearout. Getting the Kop and Johnson to sign permanently was fantastic for the club and the signs are looking better.

Final league position: 21st.
Ince...Champions


League Two

The League Two campaign came to a conclusion and all of the vital positions were decided before the final game of the season in May.

Paul Ince's MK Dons side managed to pip Darren Ferguson's Peterborough United to the title at with a win at Bradford in the penultimate outing of the campaign.

Jude Stirling and Lloyd Dyer were on target in the 2-1 win at Valley Parade.

The Dons ended the campaign on a run 18 games unbeaten going back as far as January, to take the championship crown by five poinst after Posh crucially lost 1-0 at Stockport in the fourth final game of the term. Tommy Rowe scored the games only goal to puncture United's bid.

Hereford claimed the third and final automatic promotion slot with an impressive 3-0 victory away at Brentford.

Gary Hooper, Theo Robinson and Simon Johnson were on the goal trail for
Holland...Failed to help Stgas beat drop
Graham Turner's Bulls.

Stockport County missed out mnaging just one win from thier final four league outings.

Rochdale snatched fifth owing to back-to-back home wins against Morecambe and Barnet with Rene Hoiwe in inspired form.

Darlingotn came in sixth while Wycombe hung onto seventh after Chesterfield wilting in the big failing to beat Morecambe, Darlington and Macclesfield Town in succession.

In the play-offs Stockport and Rochdale progressed to the final, with the winner to be decided at Wembley on Monday.

At the other end, Wrexham's relegation fate was sealed by a 2-0 loss at Hereford.

Mansfield also faced the drop losing 1-0 at home to midtable Rotherham United.