Just a quick giggle before you read this report…after what the weak Meadow Lane crowd of just 4,358 saw yesterday, it’d come as no surprise that the report was not going to promote an influx of fans surging to the team’s re-arranged trip to Boston in mid-week.
Apologies in advance if you thought this would be the case.
The actual report starts here…
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Likewise ‘the referee’s a w*nker’ and ‘…We always get sh*t refs’. However, none of the above seemed fitting of yesterday’s sham.
Call it sour grapes, but the standard of officiating – not forgetting the linesman, Wayne McIntosh’s near (but not quite) laughable showpiece – set almost a standard almost completely of its own for those who follow. Credit to them, they certainly will be remembered.
More like never forgotten.
With a whole host of players injured, Notts started with the defence that they finished with during the win over Swansea a week ago. Shane McFaul (18), Kelvin Wilson (18), Emmet Friars (19) and Rob Ullathorne (33) lining up in a largely inexperienced back four.
The omens, even from looking at the team sheet prior to kick off, were not good.
Inexperience means mistakes, and mistakes, quite simply, show weakness.
And, for large amounts of this drab affair, the above could not have been more accurate. Whilst credit must go to the
youngsters, it must also be said that it was more a case of if then when the Magpies’ defence would be breached.
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Thirteen minutes into the match and ‘Kiddy’ came so close to drawing ahead. A ball that somehow was not cleared found its way to the head of former Stag Chris Beardsley who somehow managed only to cushion something representing a header against the palms of Saul Deeney. The follow-up was quite miraculously missed.
Credit, however, to the save of Deeney – celebrating his 22nd birthday – whose antics have often kept County in games, regardless of team merit to be within the contest at all. An invaluable member of the squad he has proven to be.
The pressure from the on-form strugglers was relentless and the fact that the two teams went in at half-time goal-less nothing short of baffles me, with such pressure creating many a chance, without that all-important conviction.
Multiple first half efforts from Blair Sturrock – son of former Plymouth and Southampton boss Paul Sturrock – rained upon the Notts goal, all of which soaring well wide of goal.
Notts, however, were practically mute.
Contained by the no-better opposition of Kidderminster, their match was not to pick up in any way, shape or form. Their wing play weak, their creativity uninspired and their defending edgy. Not a good first half, indeed.
The Magpies went in at the break to a chorus of boos. Perhaps a little abrasive to the ear considering recent results, but looking back at a largely stagnant first half, the crowd’s disappointment was more than justified.
Half time: Notts County 0-0 Kidderminster Harriers
After a first half that had seen Notts played off the park by the side 23rd in the division, fresh optimism rained as the home support hoped for the kind of turn-around shown in the previous weeks' 1-0 win over Swansea.
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Young forward Beardsley was again the culprit when, after an excellent run down the left-hand side, went for goal himself - hitting the outside of the post - when a cutback would have left one of his team-mates with a tap-in.
Ten minutes later Mark Stallard - devoid of any decent service all game - had the Magpies best chance of the game to date, seeing his shot from the edge of the box narrowly squirm past the outside of the post.
The chance, though, was the exception and not the rule. Notts had not improved on their poor first half display, the only change in the second being that Kidderminster too looked far more happy to defend.
It was for this reason that the game looked to be heading for a dull 0-0 draw before Mr.Friend - fussy, over-zealous and favouring the away side throughout - intervened.
With just over 15 minutes left on the clock, visiting substitute Mark Rawle fell theatrically over the challenge of Kelvin Wilson and the referee immediately pointed to the spot infront of the delighted away support.
More impressively, Rawle earned a 6.9 from the watching judges.
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Four minutes after the goal and Richardson finally made the change most fans were hoping to see, taking off the hopelessly out-of-form Glynn Hurst to ironic cheers and replacing him with Shaun Harrad. Richardson had earlier brought on Matty Williams for Stefan Oakes, who played with an injury.
Friend again lost control over the game just after the substitution, with a nothing challenge from Paul Bolland sparking a near 22-man brawl between the two-sides.
The referee himself had sparked the confrontation by his completely over the top reaction to the challenge. Eventually the teams were seperated and Bolland, Stallard and one visiting player were booked, whilst a Harriers player who clearly aimed a punch at Stallard got off scot-free.
The bad blood carried over from the brawl had clearly not settled and three minutes later, round two began.
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From that moment on, the only way to explain Friend's actions would be to read his upcoming book: The life and times of a Kidderminster Harriers fan.
For the record, Friend booked Hollins, who for all the world looked the chief protagonist in the aggro and sent off Deeney. Surely a half-sensible referee would have, at very worst, booked the pair. Oh, and he also decided to hand the visitors a penalty for a bout of 50/50 pushing.
Rob Elliot stepped off the bench for his Notts County debut, replacing Emmet Friars. Keates again stepped up and again produced the perfect penalty.
Amidst angry scenes in the Jimmy Sirrel stand - with the referee at least managing to provoke a tiny bit of atmosphere from Meadow Lane - Notts finally reacted to the injustice, pulling a goal back almost immediately.
David Pipe crossed the ball in from the right and that man Stallard was on hand to cooly slot past the on-rushing keeper.
With Notts now looking to earn a unlikely point, it came as a hammerblow to see the visitors kill the game off with just a minute of time to play.
Breaking away down the left, John McGrath crossed to the back post for Beardsley to slot home Kiddy's only fair goal of the afternoon and spark Jose Mourinho type celebrations on the bench from Stuart Watkiss and his backroom staff.
The game was then to filter out, with the County support again chanting towards the match official - who should be in-line for a drink or two if Kidderminster are to regain their league status.
Boos rang out at the final whistle, with the players and manager Ian Richardson no doubt relieved that a quite woeful home display had been largely over-shadowed by one of the worst refereeing displays seen at Meadow Lane in many a year.
Full time: Notts County 1-3 Kidderminster Harriers
So, the five game unbeaten run comes to an end and, almost predictably, it's at the hands of one of the leagues worst teams.
Kidderminster though took the phrase 'fighting for their lives' a little too literally, and - if they continue to play in such a manner - there's unlikely to be too many tears shed if they do go down at they end of the season.
That said, they DID deserve their win even if the referee was the over-riding factor.
Back to the drawing board for Notts, who travel to Boston on Wednesday. Judging by the reaction of fans on the NCM messageboard, a few changes to the side wouldn't go amiss.
Reaction and ratings to follow.