A first Notts league goal from Lawrie Dudfield sealed a dramatic top of the table win for Notts County at Torquay United here today.
Dudfield headed home in the third minute of injury time, following a superb cross from Austin McCann.
But it was Kevin Pilkington who took the plaudits, following a series of great saves to keep Notts in it until the very end.
Notts manager Steve Thompson made one change to the side that beat Stockport County 1-0 on Tuesday. Playmaker Ian Ross was dropped to the bench in favour of Stephen Hunt. Hunt moved into central defence, for only his second Notts league start., with Mike Edwards pushing into midfield.
The change illustrated that Thompson anticipated a direct encounter, with Edwards, partnered by the hardworking Matt Somner in midfield, a more comfortable battler than the creative Ross. Thompson had earmarked opposite number, Ian Atkins, as a manager who adopts a physical approach, and it was clear Thompson was keen to match the home side.
The Plainmoor side were sitting one position and three points behind Notts prior to the start of the proceedings. An early six-pointer you could say, and they gave a debut to new signing Leo Fortune-West.
Torquay made the brighter start, with the dangerous Jamie Ward looking to dominate the encounter. Ward, who partnered Fortune-West in attack, had scored six in six previously, and Notts boss Thompson had earmarked him as the major threat to Notts' hopes here today.
|
Soon after, Lee Mansell volleyed from just inside the area, but Pilkington again saved smartly.
Notts were struggling to get a grip on the game, and a lack of creativity, particularly from the midfield, seemed to be the problem. Wide-men Andy Parkinson and David Pipe were finding it difficult to involve themselves, and front duo Jason Lee and Junior Mendes were lacking a great deal of service.
Lee, participating in his last game before his ban for five cautions takes place next week, was working hard but to no avail.
In front of a sparse atmosphere, the game was doing little to create much anticipation in the stands, particularly the away support, with Notts yet to extend Nathan Abbey in the Torquay goal.
Indeed, it wasn't until the 34th minute that Abbey's goal saw some action, and it was arguably the best chance of the game up to that point. Unsurprisingly for Notts, it came from a set-piece. Taken by Austin McCann, it fell to Edwards six yards out, but he didn't catch it right and could only direct it safely into Abbey‘s arms, with the net gaping.
The first caution of the afternoon went to White, after a bad challenge by Lee Andrews. The usually composed character of Edwards reacted badly, but the referee's only further action was to yellow card White for arguing that Andrews should have been booked.
As the half-time whistle went, Notts headed into the break thankful to Pilkington's efforts for keeping the score level. In truth, with Notts second best, the game had been pretty poor and certainly uneventful, though Edwards did have the game's best chance for Notts.
No changes were made by either side at half-time, but Notts had clearly adopted a more attacking approach, and they needed too.
Hunt had a good chance straight away, after Notts forced their first corner of the game shortly after the break. Parkinson swung it in, and it fell to the former Southampton youngster, who miss-directed his effort wide of Abbey's goal.
It was clear that if Notts were to up the stakes, a victory could be on the cards, because for all of Torquay's possession, the tie was still evenly poised.
Infact Notts had made the better start to the second half, with Torquay being forced onto the back foot.
No sooner had Notts took the initiative however, than Torquay created a real opening on the counter attack. Getting in behind full-back Dan Gleeson, Fortune-West was denied by the in-form Pilkington with an excellent one-handed save.
Parkinson then drove well over, before his direct run into the box was halted by a physical challenge. It seemed Parkinson was pulled back, but the referee, Mr K Stroud, was unfazed by the claims. It seemed a clear penalty, and the away following were furious.
Former Tranmere ace Parkinson had clearly upped his game. The left winger, under pressure from supporters following an indifferent start to his third spell at Meadow Lane, was poor in the first half. However, he began to involve himself more in the second, and another of his corners caused danger for Torquay when White battled to prod the ball towards Abbey in the Torquay danger area.
Nevertheless, Parkinson was then replaced by Ian Ross, with Tcham N'Toya also entering the fray for Mendes, who had failed to get into the game. The double substitution was a positive one by Thompson, who had clearly noted that Notts could get something out of the game.
Torquay had there own penalty shout, again it looked a clear penalty, after Ross brought down substitute Martin Phillips, but again the referee waved it away.
It seemed that the game was there for someone to take it, if only either side could grab the initiative. It certainly seemed that one goal would decide it.
Dudfield entered the action in Thompson's final throw of the dice, and he replaced the ageing Jason Lee.
|
Leo Fortune-West again caused Notts' backlines a few problems, before Phillips got a shot in on Pilkington's goal.
Ian Ross then whipped in another Notts corner, but N'Toya's weak header went straight into the side netting.
N'Toya then drilled wide through a crowded penalty box, as Notts continued to press, but time was running out for both sides who had seen their defences largely on top throughout.
As four minutes of injury time was added on to the game, it was announced that 442 Notts fans had made the trip to the English Riviera, and Notts were seeking to give their travelling army something to shout about.
It came in the final minute, and it was substitute Dudfield's first real contribution of the game. McCann's superbly flighted left wing cross was met by Dudfield's head, and he directed it comfortably past Abbey, to the delight of the Notts contingent in the ground. That Dudfield was booked for over celebrating, showed the delight of the former Boston man.
It was never a classic game, but a classic away performance it was, and Notts' never-say-die attitude was again evident.
With a fierce local derby at Mansfield Town next, those qualities will be further tested, but with each passing game, Thompson's boys look more and more like a side who have success on the horizon.