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This brings up the second cliché, which has certainly had an over-use for some years at Meadow Lane: "Same Old Story".
The game started well for the Pies. Several corners were created early on, and it seemed only a matter of time before one was converted into a goalscoring opportunity. When that arose, Glynn Hurst it was who was the guilty man. Notts’ goalscorer of last week pounced on a cross in the fifth minute, and with the 'keeper stranded, had the simple task of volleying into the half-empty net. Instead, he lost all composure and proceeded to smash a volley miles over the bar into the visitors end. No room for the erratic celebrations that greeted his first for the club last week this time.
However, he set about quickly to redeem his flailings with an incisive dart into the area and neatly weighted cross for strike partner Gordon to surely put into an empty net. Instead, the target man attempted to flick the ball when a simple side-foot was easier to convert, and this spurned another golden opportunity. Not to worry, though, immediately from the throw-in, Gordon had another half-empty net to aim at from close-range with a header that he placed over the bar when it seemed highly more possible to put it under. This was to be Notts’ final chance until the opener was scored.
The visitors started to gain a little control as the game headed towards the half-time whistle, but Notts could be contented with their efforts going into their oranges at the break, except for the glaring opportunities missed.
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Yeovil seemed unphased, and continued with their pretty football, whereas Notts turned negative and decided to pump long-balls into Gordons channel, to no avail. So once again it was no surprise to the 5000 crowd when the much-deserved equaliser came. Substitute, Paul Terry, brother of England International John, rocketed a bullet header past loanee Wayne Henderson after stealing in past Rob Ullathorne and Ian Richardson to meet a perfectly flighted cross, sending the visitors into raptures. Their celebrations weren’t to end there, as they became more direct, forcing Notts onto the backfoot and causing panic for the first time amongst the backline. The equaliser though, was a little fortunate. Ex-Evertonian, Phil Jevons, collided with Notts winger David Pipe, going down dramatically and causing the referee to award a dubious penalty. Jevons stepped up himself. However, Henderson dived to his right to push out the shot, before Jevons rushed in to finish County off by converting the rebound. It was a carbon copy of the one conceded on the opening day against Chester.
Notts’ squandered chances cost them the first, so far elusive, victory of this campaign. Relegation form is apparent in the Magpies, as Mills spearheads Notts on a downward spiral, anyone for Barnet?