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Notts Claim Point at Layer Road

Last updated : 13 April 2003 By

People need inspiration to write. But I’m afraid to say this match had nothing to set my pen scribbling with excitement. For that reason it falls into my category of "Forgettable games". It was one that in a few seasons time you will look back at fixture list and have no

Home of Colchester United
recollection of what took place and wonder if it ever happened.

Notts Boss Billy Dearden was able to field an unchanged starting XI with Mark Stallard shaking off last week’s injury.

Layer Road has one of the smallest pitches in the country and although their crowds don’t often reach the 4,000 mark, it is surprisingly busy outside their ground before kick-off.

Notts took to the field with their home shorts and away shirts on. Why couldn’t they just wear all yellow because it looks a bit shabby to me.

Colchester had only lost once in their last 13 games before today so I was expecting a reasonable game. I found it anything but.

Got the U's goal
I was in the perfect position to see Karl Duguid poke home a 7th minute goal for the home side after a mix up between defender and goalkeeper. Patrick McCarthy had headed the ball backwards for Deeney but it unfortunately didn’t have enough power on it and Duguid was able to nip in-between the two of them and put the ball in the net. So in theory when the goals are shown on TV sometime you ought to be able to pick me out behind the goal with my head in my hands as the Colchester players run off to celebrate!

Colchester had the majority of the first half chances and play.

Ben May’s header flew over the bar minutes later and then Baraclough had a shot saved by Richard McKinney in the U’s goal.

Notts had another scare when they failed to clear the ball after having numerous opportunities to do so. United had at least three shots on goal (that I can remember – there could have been more) in the space of a few seconds. One hit the post, Kevin Nicholson blocked one on the line and Deeney saved another.

Liburd had a shot at the other end, which was wide of the post.

25 goals so far this campaign
Just seconds after the 4th official had held up the amount of injury time remaining, Notts got an equaliser. The keeper parried Paul Heffernan’s shot and Mark Stallard was on hand for the rebound to get his 25th goal of the season.

Most Notts fans had settled for 1-0 at half time by that point so it was a bonus to be level.

HALF TIME: 1-1

Notts fans were split between two stands at opposite ends of the ground so we weren’t able to make as much noise as we would have liked!

In the second half Notts began to take control of the match and had several chances to win the game but none were successfully taken. Colchester were definitely there for the taking unlike in the first half when you could probably see why they had only lost once in their last 13 games.

Kermal Izzet
Ian Richardson had a shot wide went wide of the post before Izzet and Duguid went close for the home side but it was easy for Deeney to claim them.

Allsopp was brought on in place of Paul Bolland and almost straight away had a shot on the U’s goal.

Notts had their best chance to get a winner late on but Stallard couldn’t find the touch to bring him another goal.

FULL TIME: 1-1

Over the whole game I think a draw was probably a fair result for both sides. Notts are now in 12th place after leap frogging Swindon who lost to Huddersfield today. And for once Notts won’t be involved the last minute rush to avoid relegation this season.


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