Notts' last chance of silverware?

Last updated : 22 March 2007 By Paul Smith and Gary Moss

Silverware…ahem… well it is gold, but the challenge is there for 35-year-old Lee to pick up the coveted League 2 top goalscorer award.

Currently on 14 league goals, Lee has been one of few bright spots in an ultimately disappointing season for Notts County. The former Nottingham Forest man arrived from Boston United on a free, signing a two year contract in the summer, much to the surprise - and in many cases disgust - of some of the Notts supporters.

They had him as an over-age front man, who wouldn't fire the necessary goals needed for a Playoff push. He has done that though, but the Magpies have came up short in other areas.

Back in early February NCM ran a feature saluting his contribution, but having picked up his fifteenth booking of the campaign since, he has been missing lately as he serves a three match ban. It hasn't been a surprise to see that Notts have failed to score in all three games.

But is he a realistic candidate for the award? NCM take a look at his rivals, in the chase for the 'League 2 Golden Boot.'

Jason Lee

Games: 30 Goals: 14 Squad Number: 9

Notts' direct style of football has led Lee to being a vital cog in the performance's under Steve Thompson. The Club Captain, when not suspended, is effective with his back to goal, holding up the ball to good effect and releasing his team mates into the action.

His experience around the club will have helped the youngsters no end, and he is certainly enjoying something of an Indian summer at Meadow Lane. Fantastic in the air, Lee will be confident of getting back in the team and amongst the goals now his latest suspension has been completed.

If he stays injury free and keeps himself out of trouble with the Officials, Lee can help himself to more strikes, but can he get enough?

In familiar celebratory mood
Izale McLeod

Games: 29 Goals: 19 Squad Number: 10

MK Dons hit man McLeod heads the League Two scoring charts at present. The front man has netted 19 times so far this season and has recently been boosted by claiming League Two's Player of the Year award at the Football League awards night.

McLeod, 22, got his season off to a great start netting twice on the opening day of the season in his side's 2-1 win over Bury. He has continued in this vain all season. Perhaps his most notable contribution came against Wycombe, when he again scored twice to help the Dons to an important 3-1 win over their promotion rivals.

It really will take someone special to knock McLeod from the top of the charts. His power, pace and trickery make him a difficult opponent to deal with. His ability to score goals with his head and both feet suggest he still has more goals in him this term.

Another striker who has missed games through suspension, Dons boss Martin Allen will be hoping he stays out of the referee's notebook given his seven cautions and three reds so far this term.

One of his last Stags goals netted
Richie Barker

Games: Mansfield 24, Hartlepool 11, Overall 35 Goals: Mansfield 12, Hartlepool 6, Overall 18 Squad Number: 10

Notts fans will know Barker well from his time at local rivals Mansfield, where he scored numerous times against the Magpies, aswell as against most other teams as he almost single handedly kept the Stags above trouble.

A good leader of the line, the experienced former Rotherham man started the season impressively, notching in the Stags' first win of the season, at home to MK Dons.

As the Stags penalty taker, Barker was given extra opportunities to strengthen his goals tally, and he duly obliged with a 100% record, scoring spot-kicks against Hereford, Lincoln, Macclesfield and Boston.

He hit a dry patch during September but prior to his move to Hartlepool at the start of January, he appeared the only Town player capable of finding the back of the net as their form stuttered.

After joining Hartlepool for an undisclosed amount he scored his first goal in a 1-1 draw at Wrexham, and has hit five since to give him an excellent chance of the golden boot. He has also yet to taste defeat in Hartlepool's colours as the league leaders look for an immediate return to League 1.

Another goal for Forrester
Jamie Forrester

Games: 33 Goals: 17 Squad Number: 22

Goals have dried up for the Lincoln City striker of late, but the veteran still boasts third place in the scoring charts, with 17 goals to his name. Hat-tricks against Rochdale and Barnet as well as four versus Mansfield, helped to propel the Imps towards the top of the table earlier in the season.

The Imps are fourth in the table at present and the goals of Forrester and strike partner Mark Stallard are what put City at that end of the division.

Forrester, 33, will have to up his game to collect this season's Golden Boot but he is certainly still in the run-in, just two behind top scorer McLeod.


Celebrating after Meadow Lane win
Jermaine Easter

Games: 33 Goals: 15 Squad Number: 9

Wycombe Wanderers star Easter's biggest achievement this season is by far his goals that helped the Chairboy's reach the semi-final of the Carling Cup this campaign. But in the league, he's got 15 too.

Just one ahead of Notts' Jason Lee, his goals have come consistently this season and his hat-trick against Bury back in August set him up well for a goal scoring campaign.

On his day, he can be destructive, but on other's he looks out of place. If he can re-capture his pre-Christmas form, it could be vital in clinching Wanderers a play-off place.

But, without a goal since mid-February, Easter needs to find his shooting boots once again to hunt down the prize of the League's deadliest forward.

So he did score for Notts then?
Clive Platt

Games: 35 Goals: 15 Squad Number: 9

Given Martin Allen's attacking policy, it should be no surprise to see both of MK Dons strike partners Platt and McLeod in the top five goalscorers in the league.

Platt, the older of the two and McLeod's foil, has also added more goals to his game - a feat Notts fans know little of after he netted just six times in 22 appearances at Meadow Lane.

Similar in style and physical presence to Notts man Lee, Platt started the season poorly, but has surged almost from nowhere to challenge his team mate for the golden boot accolade.

With opposition defenders so concerned with McLeod, Platt has bustled his way - quite literally - into contention.

Scoring goals with his head is his forte, though he is likely to pop up anywhere in the box with some damaging finishing.

Other candidates:

Those with an outside chance include in-form Stockport man Anthony Elding, who has thirteen, and Lincoln's Stallard who is on twelve.

Smiths Prediction:

1st: McLeod

2nd: Barker

3rd: Lee

4th: Platt

5th: Easter

6th: Forrester

Moss' Prediction:

1st: Barker

2nd: McLeod

3rd: Platt

4th: Lee

5th: Forrester

6th: Easter