Notts County started their first home game of the season on terms that the Magpies have become somewhat familiarized with after last seasons abysmal start to their home campaign which saw the Magpies go without a home victory throughout a run of six games. And without a point or goal to their name sees Notts remain bottom of the League – of which is still jeopardised until September 8th. 
Notts lined up Simon Baldry who was unavailable for the previous two matches due to a thigh injury, whereas, Clive Platt missed out on the game after picking up a minor thigh strain. Midfield playmaker, Darren Caskey, started the game on the bench after serving a two-match ban for a dismissal in a prior match.
County started almost immediately when Paul Bolland driving his shot wide of Andy Dibble’s right-hand post. Before a spell of a very much eventless 10 minutes until Ian Baraclough saw his shot saved by the experienced Wrexham stopper.
Notts’ Simon Baldry proved a handful for the Wrexham defence when his creditable crossing attributes saw him sail cross after cross into the penalty area but with no Clive Platt around, the challenge of a fairly ambitious Paul Heffernan against the 6”7 giant that is Dennis Lawrence seems at the best – bleak.
Brian Carey became very active at the heart of defence when he blocked the shots of Bolland and Baraclough within a 3 minute period. Soon after Kevin Nicholson was adjudged to have fouled the Wrexham danger man, Carlos Edwards, which lead to him being added to the referee’s note book – much to the disapproval of the Notts faithful.
Although the Magpies looked to be containing Wrexham all over the park the red dragons managed to gain a fair amount of the possession, mainly from the referee not being content with letting the game flow as he managed to find an excuse to stop play at every opportunity resulting in the majority of free-kicks being given to the North Welsh outfit.
Lawrence
Wrexham saw Chris Armstrong nod the ball goal bound, which was the dragon’s best effort of the half- which Stephen Mildenhall comfortably saved subsequent to his mid-week heroics against Preston North End in the Carling Cup.
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Again, the match reports may as well be copied over from last season as Notts failed to keep up the impressive performance that they had showed us throughout the first half as they gradually let play slip through their grasp.
Dennis Lawrence brought down Mark Stallard on the hour mark which lead to him joining Kevin Nicholson in the book. The resulting free-kick saw Paul Heffernan shooting with his back to goal – but even his endeavours was comfortably saved by the wily old Andy Dibble. Dibble again grabbed a piece of the action when he saved Stallard’s shot later.
The subsequent counter attack built up with Trinidadian international, Carlos Edwards, burst past Kevin Nicholson before planting a low cross towards the far post which was slotted home by substitute Hector Sam.
Soon after Darren Caskey entered the fray in place of Ian Richardson in a dieing attempt to saviour a point. Hackworth then replaced Kevin Nicholson as Notts pushed forward.
Ian Baraclough nearly snatched a late equaliser for Notts, but Andy Dibble saved brilliantly. But despite County’s labour they were not rewarded, in fact with just minutes remaining the very man who turned down Notts over a contract in Wales nearly added to the Magpies woes but fortunately for Notts the goal difference didn’t decrease as Mildenhall saved his grim effort from just six yards out.
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Notts