While taking nothing away from Steve Thompson's Magpies, they couldn't have wished for three better teams to play then the outfits that turned up in the colours of Bury, Grimsby Town and, especially, Boston Utd as they looked
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If displays like the one they produced today are anything to go by, Steve Evans' Boston side are a non-league club in all-but name.
The visiting team's players were required to make their own way to Meadow Lane for the fixture, such is the crisis-club's financial state. And, though the only other time they were required to do this they produced a 2-1 win at Mansfield Town, they never looked in danger of repeating the feat with a performance that lacked all the expected battling qualities of a team fighting for their lives.
Boston didn't look like a team desperate for points, they looked like a hugely dis-orientated side whose players were annoyed at not being paid for over a month and wouldn't be stretching themselves too much until they were.
Evans' team were not only lacking in quality - we expected that - but they were also lacking in work-rate and fight, a point illustrated by the fact that referee Richard Beeby was only called-upon to show one yellow card to either side in a pedestrian match that lacked any real sort of tempo for the duration.
In blazing sunshine, it was almost reminiscent of a pre-season friendly. Not only were Boston giving Notts a ridiculous amount of time on the ball, particularly in the early stages, but the lack of numbers (4,107) in the stands meant that supporters were easily able to hear the shouts of the players and the endless, moronic appeals from Evans and his coaching staff to the officials.
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Lee's opener, against one of his former clubs, looked like being the first of many in a decent opening for Thompson's side. After just 11 minutes, an excellent pass from Jay Smith - easily Notts' best player - sent Andy Parkinson into space on the right-wing. His low centre was converted by the Notts captain with embarrasing ease.
Though Thompson's tactics of playing a three-pronged strike force had suggested an attacking approach, Notts' reaction after taking the lead was disappointing.
Almost immediately, the pace slowed and the midfield deepened. Smith and Ian Ross were still granted time on the ball, but were often unable to produce a productive forward pass.
As a result, Boston had somehow began to work themselves back into the game, though Kevin Pilkington remained largely untroubled.
That is until the 56th minute when the goalkeeper produced a stunning save to tip substitute David Galbraith's free-kick onto the underside of the crossbar. It was Boston's only genuine piece of quality in the entire game and, shortly after, they were made to pay for Pilkington's heroics.
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With Ross substituted, left-back Austin McCann delivered a well-flighted free-kick to the far post that was met by a powerful header from Lee. Though this was parried by Andy Marriott, the visiting captain, Matt Somner - Ross' replacement - was on hand to net the rebound.
It was Somner's first goal for Notts since joining in the summer and his first professional strike since March 2003.
Shortly before Notts had delivered their killer-blow, Thompson had summoned Charlton loan pairing James Walker and Myles Weston to get ready for action. Though Somner's goal was pleasing, it was the arrival of the two teenagers that was to prove the highlight of the afternoon.
Finally, a bit of pace and vibrancy was added into procedings and, finally, there were a couple of Notts players who were showing this Boston outfit for what they were.
Thompson was undoubtedly pleased with the contribution of the on-loan pair afterwards, but supporters were unanimous in raising the same question.
Why haven't we seen these two earlier?
After being sat on the sidelines for the first three weeks of their loan spell, Walker and Weston treated the crowd to a 20 minute show-boating session that illustrated the gulf in quality between not only the opposition, but the other Notts players too.
Thompson says there is a time and a place for young players. If they're this good, that time is all the time. Starting places at Wrexham on Monday are surely not out of the question.
Though the youngsters were able to create further chances with their undoubted skill, Notts were unable to add to their advantage. Notts instead settled for their third successive clean-sheet, all of which have been gained since Mike Edwards has been moved back to his preferred position at the heart of the defence.
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He branded Thompson a disgrace after an already uneasy relationship - Notts' team today contained five ex-Boston players - a series of arguments throughout the game only intensified the mutual hatred between the pair.
Security was called into the tunnel but, thankfully, the disturbance didn't lasttoo long and subsided relatively quickly. Perhaps that will have been a relief for those Boston players relying on public transport to get themselves home.
After such a show, few tears will be shed if the Pilgrims maintain this form and fall into the Conference. The Professional Football League is no place for Evans and certainly no place for the team he put out in opposition to the Magpies today.
Full Time: Notts County 2-0 Boston United
Facing another struggling team, Wrexham, on Monday and with the added explosive options of Weston and Walker now in his armoury, Thompson is starting to believe that an unlikely charge to the top seven could now be underway.
Whether that is a bigger reflection on the collective weakness of this League than Thompson's Notts side is open to debate, but with a possibility of a playoff place with just five games to go, at least it makes a welcome change to Notts fans used to looking in the other direction at this stage of a season.
Match Ratings to follow.