Keepers' reign during draw

Last updated : 11 February 2007 By Rob Bristol

Notts enjoyed a bright start to this afternoons "6 pointer" at The Causeway Stadium. Andy Parkinson caused Wycombe early problems and won a 4th minute corner which Austin McCann took long to the far post where stand in 'keeper Jamie Young gathered under pressure.

Young... Terrific form
Following a long range effort from Wycombes Matt Bloomfield which didnt trouble Kevin Pilkington, Jay Smith replied for Notts with a 20 yard shot which also failed to test the keeper.

Wycombes response was to force their first corner of the game, Mike Edwards rising the highest to see off former Notts player Stefan Oakes' inswinging corner.

The match seemed to have settled by then with little goal mouth excitement, a flurry of throw-ins for both sides emphasises the course the game had taken. From the latest of these throws, Notts were endebted to the referee's assistant who adjudged Tommy Mooney to be offside as he chased through a defence splitting pass.

A foul by David Pipe on former Notts man Chris Palmer saw Oakes finding Mooney from the resulting free kick, Mooney contrived to miss the target from 12 yards much to Notts' relief.

Further pressure from the home side saw Bloomfield with a smart shot from 12 yards which Pilkington managed to parry. Wycombe seem to have stemmed Notts' bright start and were now firmly in control.

As Notts attempted to break away, Easter crudelly stopped Gary Silk in his tracks and deservedly picked up the games first yellow card. This was quickly followed by Pipe also getting booked for yet another foul on former team-mate Palmer.

From the resulting free kick, Golbourne forced a corner which Oakes took and Pilkington gathered well under pressure on the back post.

Pilkington... Terrific form

Smith tried his luck on 40 minutes with a fiercely struck 25 yard shot that just cleared the Wycombe crossbar, this was followed by Jason Lee firing in an 18 yard shot that was well held by Young.

Notts finished the half with another effort from Lee, this time the Notts leading goal scorer flashed a header marginally wide of Youngs left upright.

Half time 0-0

Second half

Notts started as they finished the first half by forcing Wycombe back into their final third.

Another Notts corner, the first of the second half, saw Smith provide a chance for Matt Somner but the danger was averted as the Notts man was penalised for a foul on Wycombes Mike Williamson.

Wycombe broke forward from the resulting free kick, but this time it was Wycombes turn to be penalised following a foul on Pipe.

Mooney became the latest Wycombe player to impede Parkinson, from the resulting free kick Notts forced another corner, but like all the previous attempts, Wycombe eventually cleared their lines

A foul by Lee on Oakes led to Wycombe winning their first corner of the second half, but Palmer failed to test the Notts defence with a poorly delivered cross.

Smith received a yellow card following a foul on Easter, this was followed by the introduction of Alan White for Somner, a tactical change which saw Edwards move into midfield.

Almost immeadiately Pipe had the best chance of the game to open the scoring, but the Welshman could only watch as Young produced the save of the game and tipped his volley over the bar.

Stephen Hunt and White were both shown the yellow card in Wycombes next attack, Hunt for a foul on Mooney and White for encroachment from the resulting free kick.

As the game entered its final quarter both Wycome and Notts made substitutions in an effort to get all 3 points, Wycombe replacing Bloomfield with Anthony McParland and Notts replacing Pipe with Junior Mendes.

As the game neared its final few minutes, it was Notts who came so agonisingly close to taking all 3 points, but once again Young was Notts' thorn in the side as he turned away a close range effort from Lawrie Dudfield.

As the final whistle sounded, Notts were left to reflect on a very valuable point which they more than deserved with the positive way in which they had appraoched the game.