First of all, let me congratulate Gary Mills. There's only two ways that the floundering bunch of no-hopers could have possibly responded to the humiliating 3-1 defeat. There was the first route - which involved another spanking on our hands. Or the other - this way.
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The ultimate test of the evening was whether or not Mills was any longer capable of motivating his team back into action against a Darlington side that had never won a Meadow Lane match. A test in which he passed, with a great deal of ease.
A secondary test was whether or not Mills was physically able to drag himself to a post match interview to address his public. Almost as predictably as shirking the interview after defeat at Field Mill, Sir Gaz was quick to dash to the airwaves, delivering a heartfelt apology, of all things, to the fans after tonight’s performance.
The Magpies looked lively right from the off, with Tony Scully – turning out in the somewhat alien right-flank – galloping down the flank to loop the ball right onto the forehead of Gavin Gordon. However, his stooping header hit the ground fiercely and ended up bouncing over the cross bar.
Paul Bolland followed the lead of team-mate Gordon, squandering the first of many Magpies chances to take the early initiative when he struck wide of the mark before Chris Palmer and the outstanding Stef Oakes both narrowly failing to find the net, with the Darlo ‘keeper and defence standing strong.
Shortly after, however, and Oakes found himself in the referee’s book for a desperate sliding tackle on Darlington’s Adolfo Gregorio when the ball escaped his touch.
But it was Hurst – who seems to have found some sort of normality now – who came closest after just twenty minutes. His looping header eluded Sam Russell in the Quakers goals, before Matt Clarke cleared off the line.
However, the Magpies’ most positive start to a game was rewarded shortly after when they seized the advantage through their ever-reliable top-scorer.
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Gordon, ten minutes later, was in fine form once again, sliding stupidly through former Magpies transfer target, Matt Clarke long after the ball had gone – thus earning him a place, along with Oakes, in the book before Chris Palmer flighted a shot into the waiting arms of ‘keeper Russel.
Half Time: NOTTS COUNTY 1-0 Darlington
In at half time, the fans applauding you off the field for the first time in weeks here and a Darlington side that seldom looked capable of pulling a muscle, let alone a rabbit from the proverbial hat. Simple task, right?
For the first time this season, Mike Whitlow – who received the ultimate, yet arguably justified, indecency of being transfer listed – was doing the job he was brought here to do: marshal, marshal, marshal! And marshal he did, as the Magpies defence looked more than capable of holding off the irrelevant Darlington attacks all night.
Valentine, however, nearly broke down the otherwise solid Magpies defence, but he went on to waste the chance of a would be equaliser.
Hurst, however, uncharacteristically squandered a decent opportunity to put the game beyond doubt as he beared down on goal. With Scully in support in the middle, Hurst supposedly failed to catch sight of the darting winger – so laying the ball off to Bolland, who unceremoniously blazed wide much to the disappointment but not the surprise of the Magpies faithful.
Notts were arguably dealt their biggest injustice of their season when Darlington managed to draw level after being under the cosh for vast expanses of the ‘contest’.
A misplaced clearance from the otherwise excellent Rob Ullathorne landed kindly for Quaker’s Gregorio, who lifted a ball into the box for Alun Armstrong to bravely contest and hence score from – before colliding into the frame of the goal. Darlington’s first attempt on goal of the evening.
Gavin Gordon was then withdrawn for Chris O’Grady, after seeing the Notts number nine turn in by far and away his most efficient performance in a Notts shirt.
Late on and Saul Deeney had to tip over in emphatic fashion in the dying stages when a looping Ian Clark header almost looped its way into the back of the net – something that would have been the most desperately unlucky of all the Magpies woes of late.
Full Time: NOTTS COUNTY 1-1 Darlington
After showing great bouncebackability after the weekend’s degrading spanking, let’s just hope the bitter taste of disappointment can inspire the Magpies to victory at home to Boston on Saturday.
On a more serious note, NCM – on behalf of the fans - would like to offer Darron Gee and his wife our support after Gee was absent from last night’s match due to his wife undergoing an emergency operation to deliver twins, who are said to be very poorly after being prematurely delivered.