Notts Lose Unbeaten Record at Rushden

Last updated : 17 March 2004 By Rob Davies
Notts' first half 'performance' was by far the worst 45 minutes so far under Mills. They went in at half time two goals down thanks to a double from centre back Andy Edwards, and deserved to be.

A double substitution at half time, though, seemed to do the trick as one of the substitutes, Tony Scully, fired home in the 62nd minute to give Notts a fighting chance.

However, despite a great second half display Notts couldn't get the equaliser they deserved thanks to a combination of poor refereeing, bad luck and poor finishing.

Simon Baldry- Switched to the left
Gary Mills made one change in personnel from the side that drew 1-1 at Wycombe on Saturday, giving Steve Scoffham his first start since he joined from non-league Gedling Town a month ago. Tony Scully was dropped to the bench.

Paul Heffernan, who was a doubt with a ankle injury, was deemed fit enough to start. While Mills pulled another surprise by switching Paul Bolland to the right side and Simon Baldry to the left, where he's not looked comfartable in the past.

The game started at a reasonably fast pace, with giant striker Onandi Lowe winning a number of free-kicks in the air early on, it was a theme that would continue through-out the game. One of these free-kicks was fired narrowly over the bar by Lowe himself in the third minute.

Notts didn't actually start too badly, Paul Bolland had a decent left footed strike from the edge of the box saved, while an excellent move resulted in Rushden keeper Billy Turley catching well from David Pipe's cross.

That was as good as it got, however, as 8 minutes in Rushden started to take control. Rodney Jack cut in from the left and hit a peach of a strike that looked certain to bulge the net until Arphexad threw himself to his left to produce the save of the match and deny the little striker a great goal.

But, with 11 minutes on the clock, Arphexad's good work proved to be in vain as the home side took the lead.

To say the goal was preventable is an understatement. FIVE players could & should have prevented it.

Stuart Gray's inswinging corner from the left was poor and failed to beat the first defender. Stefan Oakes- put in the exact spot incase this situation occured- swang a boot at it wildly to send the ball spiraling into the night sky. Bolland, Heffernan and Richardson all had time to clear the ball with ease, but Bolland jumped unchallenged, scuffed his header straight to Rushden midfielder, the aptly named Gary Mills, who put in a low drive which was easily diverted into the net by Edwards, who had lost his marker with ease.

The 881 travelling supporters behind that goal were rightly furious with their teams shambolic defending and made their feelings known to the squabbling players.

David Bell hit a shot over the bar, before Tony Barras' header failed to trouble Turley.

Barras was then harshly booked for handball by the referee, who was completely biased towards the home side throughout the game.

Rushden- buoyed by some prat with a drum sat next to the Notts fans- continued to pressure the visitors, as the ineffective midfield quartet of Bolland, Caskey, Oakes and Baldry were being completely over-ran. Oakes, in particular, was guilty of persistently giving the ball away.

Caskey- Taken off at half time
Notts still had the odd bit of possession though, Pipe firing a powerful 30 yard drive just over. Scoffham was also looking lively in his full debut.

It was the ex-Gedling man who had the next chance, as he headed Richardson's cross just wide in the 27th minute.

Despite fleeting pressure, it was little surprise to anyone when Rushden doubled their lead in the 35th minute.

The home side won a corner on the right, at which time I said all Notts had to do was mark up at a corner. Ah. David Gray whipped it in, Leo Roget scrambled it on and there was that man Edwards to slide it high into the net with embarrasing ease. 2-0 down and flashbacks to Dearden, and more specifically, Peterborough, were flooding back to angry Notts fans.

Oakes hit a decent free-kick just wide as Notts looked to regain some pride.

Rushden were, without doubt, one of the dirtiest sides we've played this season. You name it, they tried it. The latest example was when Scoffham went in for 50/50 ball with the keeper, who promptly went down like he was shot. The angry hords surrounded Scoffham, who did well not to react, especially when you consider he was taking some nasty abuse from the Rushden fans behind that goal.

The striker was eventually booked, though after the referee had brandished the yellow card the keeper made a surprisingly quick recovery.

Richardson had Notts' best effort of the half before the break, sliding a low right foot shot towards the near post which Turley did well to keep out.

Half Time came and the away team were rightly booed off by their enraged supporters. Only Pipe, Scoffham & Arphexad could go into the dressing room at the break with any credit.

HALF TIME: Rushden & Diamonds 2-0 Notts County

Luckilly, we now have a manager with half an ounce of sense and Mills responded to the first half shambles by a double substitution and an almighty shuffle.

Caskey (must've been a picture when he was informed he was coming off) was replaced by Scully and Baldry was taken off to be replaced by the recently out of favour Baraclough.

This meant Baraclough came on at left back, with Richardson moving inside and Fenton moving to right back. Scully came on the left wing so Bolland moved in alongside Oakes and Pipe moved further forward to the right wing.

Turley- Whipping boy for the Notts fans
The changes didn't take immediate effect, but the game had evened out and Notts were visably more solid at the back with captain Richardson back where he plays best.

Oakes- now looking far happier with a ball winner alongside him- flighted in a free-kick from the left, but unfortunately for Notts Scoffham and Fenton both went for the same ball and it went harmlessly out for a goal kick, with Fenton- not for the first time- whinging at one of his team mates.

The Magpies were now starting to play the football we all know they can, with Scully showing good dribbling skills down the left and the previously ineffective Heffernan firing a shot over the bar.

Bolland was looking far happier in the centre of midfield and had already came close to playing in Scully before the ginger midfielder came close himself with a left foot strike which came agonisingly close to the bottom corner of the net.

Notts were now dominating and Scoffham was certainly keen to impress and he showed great pace to run almost the entire length of the field, before playing it wide to Pipe who won a corner.

Heffernan then came close as he headed Scully's cross wide.

But, with 62 minutes on the clock, Notts did get themselves back into the game.

Some neat footwork in midfield left Scully with some room to run into and the Irish winger hit a great low 25-yard drive which snook inside Turley's near post and send the travelling supporters behind that goal into wild celebrations.

Notts continued to pressure and were denied the first of two decent penalty shouts when Roget appeared to handle in the penalty area.

Scully- Fired in Notts' goal
The referee summed up just how much of a Homer he was on 66 minutes when Scully was blatantly pulled down, only for the ref to ignore the incident, but he saw the one 10 seconds later when Baraclough fouled Bell. Surprise, surprise the experienced full-back became the third Notts player to enter the book to add insult to injury.

Notts seemed to take their foot off the gas a tiny bit, but luckilly the Magpie following kept themselves entertained by laughing at Billy Turley's hair.

The away side had a half chance on 72 minutes, but Ian Richardson couldn't get enough power behind Scully's cross and his header was easily saved by Turley.

Gary Mills' men had a minor scare with 15 minutes remaining as Paul Bolland was penalised for handball dangerously close to the 18-yard line, but the offence actually took place just outside the box and David Gray wasted the close range free-kick.

Scoffham continued to be flagged offside as all the decisions seemed to be going against The Magpies, while a sub-plot between the striker and the Rushden 'keeper was developing as 'Scoff' sent Turley to the floor, only for the man with head-band to react like a big girls blouse and threaten to 'sort him out'.

Rushden, who had been time wasting for the last 20 minutes now, continued to try and cheat their way to victory as their Gary Mills tried a rather shambolic dive in the penalty area, which couldn't even fool this referee, a statement if ever there was one. The midfielder was booked for his trouble.

Nicky Fenton- Late effort cleared off the line
Scully was continuing to cause problems for the home side and weaved his way to another chance from the edge of the penalty area which Turley got down well to save.

Scoffham & Heffernan were trying their best to carve out oppurtunities but it just wasn't happening for Notts- until the fourth official indicated that there would be 3 minutes added on for stoppage time.

Things kicked off in the first of the 3 minutes as Heffernan broke free down the right and forced Turley to turn it behind for a corner.

From the resulting corner, an almighty scramble ended up with Hanlon clearing Fenton's effort from off the line.

Notts won one last corner, which Scully floated in and with everyone- including goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad in the box- Richardson headed narrowly wide to the despair of Notts' fans who knew that was the final chance.


FULL TIME: Rushden & Diamonds 2-1 Notts County

Notts fought back bravely in the secod half and ultimately deserved a point, but as Gary Mills rightly pointed out afterwards, the first half showing was nowhere near good enough.

The game against Chesterfield on Saturday is now one of the biggest in a long, long time. Lose it- and the consequences don't bear thinking about.

Notts: Arphexad, Pipe, Fenton, Barras, Richardson, Bolland, Caskey (Baraclough 45), Oakes, Baldry (Scully 45), Scoffham, Heffernan.

Not Used: Deeney, McHugh, Harrad.

Match Ratings- plus more on the signing of Matty Williams from Man U- to follow.