Own Goal Gifts Seagulls Victory

Manager Gary Mills clearly had next season in mind with his starting line up with Andy Parkinson, Kelvin Wilson and Ian Baraclough promoted to the starting line-up after impressing when being used as substitutes in recent weeks.

Mills opted to start Matty Williams upfront partnered alongside the on-loan

Parky: Named in the starting line-up

Sheff Utd star Andy Parkinson. While, Steve Scoffham and Shaun Harrad were named on the bench. While, as expected, Paul Heffernan did not travel with the team after announcing his decision not to re-sign for the Magpies next season.

The game started as it meant to go on, well for the first half anyway! It was slow and dull. But the Magpies suffered yet more heartache, not only did they loose their fifth consecutive away game but lost two key players to injury.

Influential David Pipe - today playing at right midfield - was taken to hospital with a very bad injury to his ankle, after an extremely late challenge from a Brighton 'player'.

Captain Ian Richardson also had to be replaced in the second half after he received a knock after jumping for an aerial ball.

And to compound Notts' problems, 18-year-old Kelvin Wilson, who had enjoyed a highly promising debut, scored the only goal of the game as he attempted to clear his lines and gave the Seagulls the lead mid-way through the second half.

An early cross from the Brighton hitman Leon Knight was the game's first opening, but it was dealt with by Notts defender Tony Barras.

Brighton’s Chris Iwelumo conceded a free kick for the Magpies with only 2 minutes on the clock because he handled the ball but only seconds later the tall Brighton striker raced back towards goal and had his first shot of the afternoon from 20 yards out but safely struck it wide to the right of the goal.

Notts had their first shot of the afternoon through a Stefan Oakes left footed volley from 18 yards, but Seagulls keeper Ben Roberts dutifully saved the attempt.

The game was niggly, with countless free-kicks for either side meaning the game could never really develop any kind of rhythm to it.

Twenty five minutes into the game, the first yellow card of the afternoon was produced when Barras was booked for unsporting behaviour after committing a foul on Knight and conceded a free kick which was taken by Guy Butters but was held by Saul Deeney.

Moments later Butters had another shot, this time blocked by Paul Bolland – who had a rather quiet game back in the centre of midfield.

Brighton's Nathan Jones came close moments later when his left footed in-swinging corner which went close to sneaking in the far post.

Ex- Man Utd striker Williams saw an opportunity to go forward and put the Magpies ahead but he was caught offside.

Brighton had two more opportunities just before the break through a shot from Iwelumo, who latched onto the ball from Knight’s cross into the area, which was blocked.

And secondly, moments later when an in-swinging corner from Charlie Oatway failed to produce anything.

Notts went in at half time with the score-line at 0-0 – a slight rarity in these times, as recent away trips have resulted in four-goal pastings.

HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-0 Notts County

With Mills naming a team with next season very much in mind, it was ironic that the side came in at 0-0 for the break - putting a few of the 'normal' regulars to shame.

But they could so easily have been behind early into the second half as the dangerous Knight found the palms of Saul Deeney with just 13 seconds of the second period played.

This break through promoted a Seagull's onslaught as Notts found themselves on the back-foot early on - the story of our season really.

A Brighton corner caused chaos for the Magpies' rear-guard; only for it to be hacked away by a frantic Notts defence.

With no longer than ten minutes having been played after the re-start, both sides found themselves carrying a card.

Brighton's Charlie Oatway - booked for a terrible tackle on Pipe- and Ian Richardson (Notts) the guilty men.

Pipe: Taken off on a stretcher

Due to Oatway's challenge, which could've easily earned the midfielder a sending off, Pipe was stretchered off and replaced by Simon Baldry.

Shortly after, the Brighton bench seemed to confirm that Oatway should've been in more bother when he was withdrawn to be replaced by Gary Hart.

And it was to be Hart who ultimately had a hand in Brighton's opener.

His long throw into the box caused all-sorts of problems for the Magpies' back-four, not least for youngster Kelvin Wilson.

So perhaps it was not the best way to mark his first County start by striking the ball through his own net in a somewhat awkward attempt to clear his lines.

It was harsh on the full-back, who had been one of Notts' better players, but it has to be said that the finish was almost Richoesque.

Notts gaffer, Gary Mills then threw all he had into the mix as he introduced Steve Scoffham and Jon Bewers, making his third senior appearance in four years, within a few minutes of each other. Richardson and Oakes replaced, respectively.

But, as has been the case on so many occasions this season, Notts simply lost their way as they watched on helplessly towards the end as Brighton pushed to seal their play-off spot.

Paul Reid, however, could have doubled the home sides' lead when he struck a shot from the inside right channel into the arms of the 'keeper with just three minutes of normal time on the clock.

But Notts, with a bee in their bonnet, looked to attempt to seal a point, some pride and the disappointment of the Withdean faithful.

But a scrappy forward push inside the Albion area with could so easily have ended with a County spot-kick when Fenton's improvised effort struck the arm of a Brighton defender - the ref' giving nothing away. Before Bewers stuck an effort straight at another die-hard Brighton man. It just goes to show what a bit of fighting spirit can achieve.

Full time: Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 NOTTS COUNTY

And so Notts make the long-trip back to the Midlands with pride and one ankle seriously damaged let alone, one young man's reaching of a serious learning curve in his young career.

Notts: Deeney, Fenton, Barras, Richardson (Scoffham), Wilson, Baraclough, Oakes (Bewers), Pipe (Baldry), Bolland, Parkinson, Williams.

Subs not used: Harrad, Bacherini.