Another Late Goal Undoes Plucky Magpies

Last updated : 01 February 2004 By Matthew Taylor & Rob Davies
Notts had taken the lead in the 26th minute thanks to Andy Parkinson's 2nd goal in 3 games, but referee Eddie Ilderton then gave the away side a late penalty, which Kevin Betsy tucked away to give the visitors a deserved point.

The Notts team was again changed by ‘tinker man’ Gary Mills as Tony Hackworth was dropped after he was transfer listed on Friday, with Andy Parkinson starting up front with Paul Heffernan. Suspension-free Ian Richardson returned at centre back with Ian Baraclough moving back into midfield.

While Barnsley had a new strike pairing of Daniel Nardiello, on-loan from Man U, and ofcourse, Mark Stallard, who was given a great reception by the Notts faithful.

David Pipe- Another solid display
Notts yet again started brightly and played a new found passing game, instead of just hoofing it downfield, but struggled to finish anything off.

The home side, led by the excellent David Pipe on the right wing, came desperately close to taking the lead after just 6 minutes.

Darren Caskey fired in a great delivery from a free-kick and Nick Fenton's header, with Marlon Beresford beaten, hit the keeper's left hand post and bounced away to safety.

Paul Heffernan came close with another header just a minute later after great work down the right by David Pipe.

There was real danger for Notts on 13 minutes when a harmless delivery was flapped at and missed by Steven Mildenhall, but thankfully no Barnsley players were able to guide the ball into the vacated net.

Barnsley almost opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Paul Bolland made a last minute tackle to deny the dangerous Nardiello who was one-on-one after controlling the ball with his hand, but Bolland saved the Magpies.

Despite brief glimpses of goal from the away side, it was clearly Notts who were on top and we took a deserved lead on 26 minutes thanks to Andy Parkinson.

Caskey passed it to Baraclough who played it on to McHugh, he took it forward before threading a great ball onto Parkinson who's shot took a slight deflection on its way into the net.

Andy Parkinson- Fired Notts in front
Almost immediatly after the goal was scored Paul Bolland was substituted for Shaun Harrad due to an injury. This meant a re-shuffle for Notts, as David Pipe went back to right-back, Andy Parkinson dropping to right mid and Harrad slotting in alongside Paul Heffernan.

Barnsley almost equalized immediately as Mark Stallard seemed odds on to score past his former team-mates, but his header from four yards lacked commitment and Steve Mildenhall pull off a brilliant one handed save to keep Notts in the match.

Notts again pushed forwards and after good work from McHugh, crossed for Heffernan who got his shot all wrong on the turn and bobbled out for a goal kick.

The halftime whistle came too soon as Notts had completely dominated the first half.

Half Time: Notts County 1-0 Barnsley

As the players kicked off for the second half Barnsley looked to have had a stern lecture at half time and came out attacking, but Notts weren't lying down as Baraclough cross was too strong to pick any one out.

Notts were thanking their lucky stars shortly after as a huge error by Mildenhall presented Nardiello with an open goal, but before the striker could slot home an equaliser the linesman flagged for offside, to the obvious relief of the home support.

Fracture his cheekbone
Notts' influence on the game had got less and less and they were starting to hang-on a tad as Barnsley, led by the excellent Nardiello, but their foot on the gas a bit more.

The turning point of the match 17 minutes for time when ‘keeper Steve Mildenhall, who to be fair-had a bit of a nightmare up to that point, fractured his cheekbone attempted to save Barnsley's quickly taken free-kick, which cannoned back off the post.

Stuart Garden was brought on for the injured Mildenhall, to play his first game for the club since the opening day 5-0 drubbing by Bristol City.

Barnsley could sense an equaliser was on the cards and threw everything forward to test out the rusty Garden and it almost worked as he slipped over and almost allowing Nardiello to get in, but for Ian Richardson making a good interception.

Garden did recover well though, and he made decent saves from Betsy, ex Notts man Craig Ireland and Nardiello.

Heartbreak came on 87 minutes though for Notts, when another late goal was conceded, this time from the penalty spot as Ian Richardson was adjudged to have fouled Isiah Rankin in the box. It was a tight decision, and one I'm not sure the referee would have gave had it not been in-front of the travelling support in the Kop Stand.

Richardson was then shown a straight red for a professional foul, while Kevin Betsy cooly tucked the spot-kick past Garden.

Tony Barras was then brought on for Harrad to try and keep the point that they had.

Notts then had a chance to snatch the points in the dying seconds as Heffernan won a free kick in ‘Beckham territory’ but our very own David Beckham, Darren Caskey didn’t rise to the occasion and fired straight into the wall.

Notts' final chance to snatch all three points was inexplicably wasted, as when two-on-one, McHugh failed to play in Heffernan, who would have had a free run on goal.

Full Time: Notts County 1-1 Barnsley

More points dropped for Notts, though there can be little argument that, with all their second half chances, that Barnsley deserved their point.

The penalty incident looked a bit iffy, to say the least, but the referee was better placed than me, and their was little argument from the players, so you have to back his judgement on this one.

Match Ratings to follow.