Notts. County 2 Boston United 1

Last updated : 23 October 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Six months after their last home win Notts County were made to battle every inch of the way by lively Boston United before clinching three points for the first time in 11 Meadow Lane starts.

Boston arrived without an away win and with Notts desperate to end their home drought.

It produced a rip-roaring match with the result in doubt right to the end - great entertainment for the 5,500 crowd irrespective of the outcome.

Notts got infront through Gavin Gordon's third goal of the season as early as 17 minutes when he was played through by strike partner Glynn Hurst with the Pilgrims vainly appealing for offside.

Gordon kept cool to plant a low shot just inside debut goalkeeper Luke McCormick's right-hand post.

McCormick, on loan from Plymouth, should have been beaten again shortly before half-time when both Paul Bolland and Hurst were clean through.

Bolland chose to shoot - wide - when a simple transfer to Hurst would surely have doubled Notts advantage.

They didn't have long in the second half to wait. After 51 minutes ex-Derby County wide man Chris Palmer struck his first ever goal in senior football with a sweet drive from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of players.

That was the signal for Boston to set up a siege on the Notts goal and only three minutes after Palmer's strike the visitors had reduced the arrears.

Courtney Pitt, their outstanding player, drove a tantalising ball into the middle where a stooping short-range header by Paul Ellender took it over the line.

Boston had plenty of possession after that and Notts goalkeeper Saul Deeney produced one breathtaking save.

But, in the end, Notts were not to be denied and their Meadow Lane hoodoo was over.