Paul Heffernan grabbed a last minute equaliser for the Magpies as
Following Mark Stallard bowing out of the bank holiday game against Peterborough with the foot injury it was down to Clive Platt to lead from the front in a 4-5-1 line-up that welcomed back captain Steve Jenkins and Paul Bolland following the pair being forced out of action due to groin and thigh problems, respectively.
It was Stephen Mildenhall who was by far the busier goalkeeper, and it was Chris Lumsdon who caught the 6”5 stopper at his best on 22 minutes. The shot drilled towards Mildenhall’s top left hand corner, but the former
But the Tykes again came close when Kevin Betsy pounced on a rare piece of uncertainty from Mildenhall, but his shot from 18 yards reeled off for a goal.
On the half hour mark Stephen Mildenhall was on hand to pluck a Dean Gorre cross from the sky.
Clive Platt was then booked for unsporting behaviour after he went in [a little] late on former Notts player, Craig Ireland. Tony Gallimore then played the ball from the resulting free kick to Rory Fallon in the area, who headed the ball towards goal, but not accurately enough to trouble Stephen Mildenhall.
Throughout the first half Notts found their crosses being constantly cleared. Simon Baldry and Steve Jenkins both had their crosses blocked twice, before Darren Caskey and Paul Riley both found their crosses blocked by Lee Crooks.
County found themselves with a corner just before the break, but a Darren Caskey cross was ruled out when Magpies new-boy Clive Platt was adjudged to have fouled Notts old boy Craig Ireland.
Then two minutes into stoppage time saw Tony Barras fumble a header from a tight angle into the patient arms of Sasa Ilic.
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However, after a standing ovation from the travelling Notts fans it only took the Magpies just under 2 minutes to unravel their work when Peter Handyside got the better of the Notts centre backs with a looping effort that left Tykes winger, Dean Gorre with a simple finish from close range.
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On 62 minutes, a break in play gave Billy Dearden the chance to add some attacking influence to his line-up when he replaced Ian Richardson with Kevin Nicholson.
The 70th minute proved to be a pivotal moment in the game when, prior to another Platt infringement, Paul Heffernan was introduced in place of youngster Paul Riley.
Soon after saw Ian Baraclough slip when he got a glimpse of goal, seeing his shot trickle slowly into Sasa Ilic’s arms – a shot which was greeted with sarcastic instances of hope from the Notts faithful.
Nick Fenton came close with a diving header on 74 minutes, but the defender was adjudged to be in an offside position.
Paul Bolland unleashed a desperate effort that flew wide of the mark from 18 yards out. Michael Brough, who returns from a thigh injury, replaced Ian Baraclough at the centre of midfield.
Something [surely] struck a section of the Notts fans, that if
Notts came close after 87 minutes when Nick Fenton again found himself open in the
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Notts
The Magpies could so easily have snatched all three points when Clive Platt failed the target and then Paul Heffernan had his shot blocked off the line when Peter Handyside blocked well with his toe end.
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