Notts County can perform the Great Escape... This time to Division One

Crewe were last season relegated from Division 1, and on there showing they could struggle in Division 2 as well, despite being one of the bookies favourites to go up.

Allsopp breaks the deadlock

After a shaky first 20-25 minutes, Notts soon started to dominant the game in all areas. Crewe are famed for being a very good football team, but last night, Notts wouldn't let Crewe play football at all. Notts seemed to be first to everything, which makes a refreshing change.

On 40 minutes, Notts took a deserved lead. Kevin Nicholson played a superb ball through the middle, and Danny Allsopp ran on to it, and slotted it home past the Crewe keeper. The finish did leave a little to be desired, as it was very close to the keeper, but it managed to sneak its way in!

Then 2 minutes later, the 1,000 or so Notts fans who had made the short trip up seemed to be in heaven as we went 2-0 up. Skipper Darren Caskey played a ball through the middle and Mark Stallard shielded of Sodje in the Crewe defence to put the ball past the struggling goalkeeper. Sodje was found wanting there, and if he had touched Stallard, it would have been a penalty, and he would have been off the field.

Stewards take action

After half time Notts just had to make sure they didn't let Crewe back in the game, and Notts did that very well. The defence was watertight all game, and Stuart Garden had little to do. Notts then killed off the game. A Darren Caskey free kick was played long into the penalty area, and it was headed back to Allsopp, who had lost his marker, and he fired the ball into the bottom corner from around 12 yards out to make it 3-0.

From there, Notts were just in cruise control. Allsopp nearly made it 4 just before the end with a superb 30 yard effot, which was just saved by the keeper. At the end, Crewe were boo'ed off by there fans, whilst Notts were given a standing ovation.

Small possy of fans chant"Scardino out"

The only thing that dampened on the fantastic atmosphere created by the Notts fans, was the unfortunate altercation between some Notts fans, mainly over the Scardino situation. This involved about 10-15 fans, and soon the stewards and police got involved, and it all turned nasty, and most of these fans were kicked out.

Takes some stick for his tactics

All in all though, it was a great night out, and Notts throughly deserved there 3 points. Notts fans will hope this performance can be repeated at Stockport on Saturday.