Poor match, great result; no complaints!

Last updated : 06 March 2005 By Richard Brown

Today’s match at Meadow Lane is hardly, on reflection, going to go down as one of greatest performances of the season from Notts.

Long balls were commonplace, and chances at a premium.

However, considering the result that Notts suffered at the Vetch earlier this season, the three points picked up today tell a tale much of their own.

Both of the learning curve of Richardson, who has overcome many a challenge in his short, short managerial tenure, and of a side – constructed by the judgement of now-departed manager, Gary Mills – who are slowly learning that League Two is aiming for greatness, but aiming simply not to be the worst.

The Magpies, now five games unbeaten, were able to overcome their nightmare visit to south Wales in the latter stages of 2004 to defeat the Swans by just a single goal, a defeat that condemns Swansea to their fourth successive away defeat.

The first point of note of the afternoon came as long as fourteen minutes after kick off, with defender Julien Baudet hobbling off injured with a calf strain for Notts – already without experienced centre back, Mike Whitlow through injury.

Youngster Emmet Friars – without a club start to his name – replaced him for the remainder of contest…all seventy-six minutes of it. Leaving the Magpies trusting a defensive partnership of a nineteen and twenty-year old , with just 28 league starts between them.

Wilson: A man years above his own
A none too enjoyable prospect, surely?

The match, however, changed very little with Baudet’s departure. For as good as Baudet was in his short time on the pitch, the youngster, Friars matched the Frenchmen’s contributions in the whole.

And, be it for a superb last-ditch tackle from the 20-year old Wilson on the Adrian Forbes – through on goal and inside the area, then the first period would have passed without incident.

And, when the game did come to life, it was the Magpies who took the lead, with one of precious few real attempts on goal.

Some very un-Notts like play found the ball swing from the left flank, to the right before the excellent David Pipe hooked the ball into the path of Notts hero, Mark Stallard who – as expected from his track record – smashed home for the Magpies from just inside the box.

The 30-year old striker – who nearly missed out through illness – netted his first goal since re-joining the Magpies little over a month ago. Home sweet home, indeed.

All this just eight minutes into the second half, already up on action from the first with the goal beginning to bring out the two sides’ intents.

Notts midfielder Stef Oakes, disappointing in the first period but much improved in the second – as could have, come to think of it, have been said for the whole Notts side, came close with a volley on his unfavoured right peg, only the see the ball dribble wide.

On the hour, and Notts drummed up two of only their eight attempts on goal throughout the match in the space of just a few seconds.

Glynn Hurst, out of goal-scoring form of late, managed to create an opening from short range, his shot being cleared from the line only for Paul Bolland, with just one goal to his name this season, to blaze high into the crowd from inside the box.

Welcome home, Stall.
The Magpies, still ahead, missing two golden opportunities upon the hour.

The game continued to slur into an unstructured mess, with Paul Bolland’s raw enthusiasm proving a vital key in closing down a somewhat stale City side.

Notts, however, must thank ‘keeper Saul Deeney for his magnificent save that, effectively, clinched victory for the Magpies.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 cap, a now ever present in the side, produced a brilliant reflex save to deny Ijah Anderson a headed equaliser.

The Magpies, as they had looked for much of the first period, seemed more and more edgy as the game rolled on, and the rain teamed down upon an already wind-swept Meadow Lane crowd.

Teenage striker, Shaun Harrad replaced the goal-scorer Mark Stallard, who went off to a standing ovation with moments remaining.

However, with much thanks to the reflexes of Deeney, the prowess of Stallard and that tackle from Kelvin Wilson, the Magpies managed to hold out to claim a slender victory, extending their unbeaten run to its fifth match.

Even despite a stone-wall, second half penalty claim having been turned down, the Magpies claimed revenge for the 4-0 drubbing they recieved at the hands of the Swans in December.

Be sure to stay in touch with Notts County MAD for more action and reaction from today’s 1-0 win over the Swans, including manager reaction and player ratings from the Magpies’ exploits.