Notts. County 2 Lincoln City 1

Last updated : 13 August 2005 By Footymad Previewer
The 40th minute proved the turning point in this East Midlands derby clash won, in the end, by Notts County to preserve their unbeaten start to the season.

In that minute Lincoln felt that they should have been awarded a penalty by referee Martin Atkinson when Derek Asamoah, the Imps' flying forward, was brought down from behind by home defender Robert Ullathorne.

The referee waved play on to the obvious disgust of a protesting Keith Alexander in front of the Lincoln dug-out. The Lincoln manager certainly made his feelings known and he was left feeling even more so as Notts swept straight to the other end to score.

Andy White flicked the ball into the path of Steve Scoffham who buried it just inside the right-hand upright of goalkeeper Alan Marriott. It was Scoffham's first league goal for 17 months during which time he twice suffered a broken leg injury, either of which could have curtailed the career of this local product.

Scoffham's goal cancelled out Lincoln's opener - the first goal conceded by Notts in three matches this season.

Nat Brown picked up a loose clearance on the edge of the Notts penalty box and crashed a superb volley inside Kevin Pilkington's left hand post.

The second half was only 11 minutes old when Notts found the winner. They were awarded a free kick a couple of yards outside the penalty area and skipper Julien Baudet's shot was so powerful that although Marriott got a hand to it he could not keep it out.

Lincoln had their moments subsequently but scarcely ever looked like saving a point despite introducing Danny Bacon - last season's scoring hero with Hucknall Town - from the bench.

Though it was a day of personal success for Scoffham no player deserved to score the winner more than Baudet who again was County's outstanding player.