Another 'shot at grabbing a win

Glancing at the fixture list, many fans will see this Saturday's game as one that Ian McParland's team should win because of Aldershot Town's small club connotations.

They're back: Aldershot returned to the football league as Conference champions...

Bradford City, Darlington, Gillingham and Accrington Stanley have already felt the wrath of the minnows, discovering that attaining a victory against League Two's new boys is not as routine as first imagined.

Town are a team on the up - rising from Aldershot FC's ashes, following bankruptcy in 1992, which led to the fourth tiered side's extinction.

Reforming under the name of Town, it has taken them just 16 years to claw their way back into the football league.

Overcoming the final hurdle by gaining promotion as champions from the Conference last year, they completed a five division climb from the Ismithian League Division Three, where they started their fruitful journey.

This Saturday's match at Meadow Lane will be the first time that County will have encountered the newly formed Shots since their collapse.

The last time Notts faced Aldershot FC was in the old Division Three (League One) in 1989, when Notts ran out 4-1 winners on home soil through goals from Gary Lund, Phil Turner, Tommy Johnson and Nicky Law.

County have come out on top more often than not in the past, claiming 23 wins and seven draws in the 40 clashes between the teams.

The visitors are no doubt the team with momentum now though, starting the

Fortress: Notts have been unbeaten at Meadow Lane since the home fans attained the Kop...

season well despite some tough ties.

Recording four wins, one draw and two losses, Gary Waddock's side find themselves occupying a play-off berth in sixth place.

Although Town have started the brighter of the two, Notts will be encouraged to hear that the visitors' form on the road has not been too clever.

In their last three away games they have been sent home empty handed by Shrewsbury Town, Coventry City and Luton Town.

The only win achieved on their travels came against Accrington on the opening day of the season.

Unbeaten in eight games at Meadow Lane since losing to Lincoln City on March 11, County's home form, on the other hand, has been quite inspiring.

Finishing last season in fine style with an impressive run that included wins over Accrington, Wycombe Wanderers and Rochdale, Notts have continued it with a slightly less fulfilling trio of draws.

It has now been a slower start than last term's relegation dogfight and the Magpies' faithful are beginning to get a bit edgy.

Ten games have now passed without a league triumph, and once again Saturday will be another chance to end the winless run and prevent the club's record six draws on the bounce being extended.