Notts. County 1 Oldham Athletic 1

Last updated : 08 May 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Central defender Tony Barras saved Notts County's blushes with a last-gasp and thoroughly undeserved equaliser to frustrate Oldham Athletic.

The first half was entirely forgettable with few goalmouth incidents and Oldham providing what little good football there was.

Notts were so thoroughly disjointed that it was no surprise when Manager Gary Mills pulled off the ineffective Stefan Oakes from midfield and Matthew Williams from the frontline and called up Jonathan Bewers and Shaun Harrad.

Notts did improve a little in the second half but Oldham met the challenge by raising their game and meriting the goal they snatched just after the hour mark.

Notts Captain Ian Richardson failed to clear his lines, livewive Paul Murray pounced on the ball and fed Dean Holden for the attacking ful-lback to fire emphatically into the roof of the net.

Though Notts pushed Richardson into an attacking role and replaced Andy Parkinson with Steve Scoffham, they continued to find progress difficult to make.

Notts were further handicapped when Scoffham had to be carried off on a stretcher after a crunching challenge with the visitors' Davd Eyres.

Notts seemed certain to chalk up their ninth home defeat of the season when Paul Bolland won a free-kick in midfield and when the ball reached Barras Oldham's defenders had left him unmarked for a simple equaliser.

Mills was unwilling to say much about the match or the past season and said it was time to look forward - Notts having been relegated to the Third Division.

Announcing the promotion battle begins here, Mills disclosed the signing of Mike Whitlow from Sheffield United and confirmed interest in Darlington's leading scorer Barry Conlon.

Mills also revealed that Darron Gee is joining him from Tamworth as assistant manager.

It was nothing like the return to Meadow Lane which Oldham manager Brian Talbot had expected after an earlier visit when he guided Rushden & Diamonds to a 3-1 win. He was understandably disappointed.