Spineless Notts battered by the U's

The reason this report is late is because Footy MAD was down for the entire of last night, though it's probably a good job, as it was probably best just to have a nights sleep before writing this, I think it might just have been a tincy bit strong otherwise.

Colchester couldn't believe their luck as they eased to their biggest win of the season thanks to a hat-trick from Craig Fagan (all goals easily preventable) and another from strike partner Gareth Williams. Ian Richardson- a makeshift striker (don't ask)- netted a late consolation for Notts.

Colchester were supposedly the side with nothing to play for, while Notts were meant to be scrapping for their lives, but it sure didn't seem that way as too many Notts players put little or no effort in to help the cause. The mood was summed up when Paul Heffernan had a stoppage time penalty saved.

Pegs- Back on the bench

Gary Mills opted to name an unchanged line-up from the one that beat Blackpool 4-1 the week before, meaning the fit again Paul Bolland would have to settle for a spot on the bench. Schoolboy striker David McGoldrick- who scored two for the reserves in mid-week- was also on the bench, as was French keeper Pegguy Arphexad.

Notts may have improved under Mills, but they still have trouble starting games, but as the past few matches have shown, they're still very sluggish getting out of the blocks.

Now this is OK when, like last week against Blackpool, we somehow managed to come out of the first 10 minutes unscathed, because then we can find our feet and the game takes a whole different course. But, like against Tranmere, if the opposition get an early goal the players heads drop and you can practically kiss goodbye to any hope of getting anything from the fixture.

And this was the case yesterday. Notts were again slow out of the blocks and Fagan had already had a shot well saved by Garden before the young hitman did put the home side ahead with 8 minutes on the clock.

The striker, recently signed from Birmingham, picked up on a loose ball in midfield after McHugh had lost out to Izzet. FAGAN then capatalised on some EXTREMELY poor defending by Barras by riffling home a 20 yard shot past Garden.

Colchester continued to batter Notts as Garden saved well from Fagan's strike partner- Gareth Williams. Poor old Paul Heffernan and Steve Scoffham had barely touched the ball in the opening 15 minutes.

And the side that had nothing to play for continued to look more up for the battle and put themselves two goals to the good with just 16 minutes gone.

It was Fagan again who struck after Oakes had lost possesion in midfield, Richardson let the ball bounce and FAGAN then lobbed the ball over Garden with ease.

Notts were a shambles, the home side were very nearly 3-up inside the first 20 minutes as Colchester left winger Joseph Keith fired narrowly over when he really could have scored.

Oakes became the first player in the book on 29 minutes for a very late tackle on Kemi Izzet.

Craig Fagan- Fired home a hat-trick

Mills appeared to change the formation to a 3-5-2 with Pipe moving to the left in a bid for Notts to make a game out of it. It wasn't by any means the last change of formation in the afternoon- I think we played a bit of everything at one point or another.

Garden made another great save on 31 minutes from a blistering long strike from Williams before Notts finally managed a shot, though Scully's strike was weak and failed to trouble Colchester keeper Brown.

With just over 5 minutes left of the first half Garden became the second player booked for pushing Stockley after the full-back petulantly kicked the ball away.

Mills then made the first change of the afternoon, though it was unclear whether it was enforced or a tactical move. Steve Scoffham was the man brought off for the pacey Andy Parkinson, though perhaps Matty Williams may have felt a little upset that it wasn't him coming on, after his hat-trick in mid-week.

Notts finally forced the home stopper into a good save at the very end of the first half as the oppurtunist Paul Heffernan hit a powerful strike that was well saved by Simon Brown.

All in all, the Magpies were extremely lucky to be just the 2 goals down at the break.

HALF TIME: Colchester Utd 2-0 Notts County

For those travelling supporters hoping that the visitors might actually do similar to the performance at Rushden and, at very least, salvage some pride, they were in for big disappointment.

Colchester defender Greg Harlford headed wide when he should've hit the target before Heffernan's goal-bound effort was deflected wide.

On 54 minutes, though Colchester killed the game and Fagan completed a personal milestone of his own by hitting his first senior hat-trick.

Johnson skipped past two Notts players down the left before crossing it in for White, who headed it back across goal and FAGAN had the simple task of nodding the ball home.

Pipe- Had another good game

Notts then made their second change as the woeful McHugh taken off for Bolland. Surely Bolland should be selected over the ex Bradford midfielder from the start in future.

Things were getting worse and worse for County as Scully was the victim of a terrible challenge by Bowry and the Irish winger was stretchered off with what looked to be a serious injury. Sixteen-year-old striker David McGoldrick was given the last half an hour in place of Scully.

Poor old Matty Williams must be thinking he'd have been better off waiting for his chance at Man U.

Notts had little or no shape, Ian Richardson was now playing as a centre forward (seriously) and the side appeared to be playing some kind of 3-3-4 thingy, though I doubt they had much idea themselves.

Fenton, who was terrible, missed a good chance on the volley after he had jsut been booked. Meanwhile, David Pipe- again Notts' best outfield player- provided a fantastic clearence to stop the home side grabbing a fourth.

Notts were finally starting to get in the game now, and highly-rated Colchester goalkeeper Simon Brown made an excellent double save by saving Oakes' well struck free-kick and then denying Parkinson on the rebound.

Richardson- Late consolation

Heffernan hit a good strike just over the bar, before Notts had a half-decent penalty appeal turned down as Brown followed through on the Irish striker.

But despite this, Notts' 'defence' was still non-existent and Colchester made it 4-0 on 77 minutes.

WILLIAMS was this time the benifactor as he had far too much time and space to bring the ball under control and fire it past the badly exposed Garden.

Stefan Oakes, one of Notts' better players, forced Brown into another decent save as Colchester appeared to knock off with 5 minutes remaining.

This allowed Notts to grab a late consolation through Ian "Shearer" Richardson who headed home Oakes' corner which was won thanks to a fantastic run from young McGoldrick.

The afternoon wasn't quite over yet as Parkinson was tripped in the box to give Notts a good chance to give the scoreline a flattering look. Heffernan stepped up, but still doesn't appear to realise there's another side to the goal when he takes a penalty and Brown saved it to some up the afternoon.

Heff, you're not Alan Shearer or Ruud Van Nistelrooy, so don't go the same side every time, goalkeepers tend to look at this sort of thing.

FULL TIME: Colchester Utd 4-1 Notts County

An absoloute shambles. Those that still believe Notts are staying up need to sit down and have a serious look at our pattern of results over the season and think about it. We deserve to go down.

Some major re-building is needed for next season, and let's stick to basics, none of this 3-4-3 bollocks that we just can't play.

The match tomorrow against Sheffield Wednesday is more or less irrelavent now in my mind, but Notts really have to win it to have any hope of Division 2 survival. And BIG changes are needed, some of the players that played yesterday just aren't hope for a relegation scrap.

Colchester: S Brown, Stockley, Halford (Chilvers 78), White, W Brown, Johnson, Keith (Cade 46), Bowry (Pinault 79), Izzet, Fagan, Williams.

Notts: Garden, Pipe, Fenton, Barras, Richardson, Baldry, McHugh (Bolland 55), Oakes, Scully (McGoldrick 59), Heffernan, Scoffham (Parkinson 39).

Not Used: Arphexad, Williams.