So Super Stall does it again. I owe him one because ever since I wrote that article about him only having to score two more to complete a century of league goals he hasn’t netted once. But, fortunately for me, he finally completed that milestone today with two spot kicks. Thanks Mark you’ve saved me a bit of embarrassment!
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Other changes to the Magpie’s side saw Ian Baraclough and Ian Richardson both return to the midfield in place of Willis Francis and Darren Caskey.
Notts started the match brightly, Paul Heffernan, Ian Baraclough and Mark Stallard all had chances to draw first blood in this must win game for the ‘Pies but all failed to find the back of the net.
Huddersfield came back with efforts of their own but Saul Deeney
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Deeney had to reply on Nicholson to spare his blushes soon after as he cleared off the line.
Huddersfield were ahead on 19 minutes when Andy Booth's header flew into the net following a poor kick by Saul Deeney, this was only Town’s 8th away league goal of the season. The Irish goalkeeper’s kicks had been excellent up until then, helping to create opening for the Magpies. It was just his luck that the one that didn’t manage to reach over the half way line the visitors took advantage of.
The match wasn’t brilliant from a footballing point of view as both
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Paul Heffernan got the equaliser on 31 minutes with his 10th goal this season. After another massive kick from the Notts goalkeeper, a Huddersfield defender touched the ball on and Heffernan was in the right place to put it in the net.
The referee was centre of attention on many occasions during the game as has been the case with several of the officials encountered by Notts this season. He gave some, what seemed like wrong decisions throughout the match, one of which gave Huddersfield a second goal.
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Paul Heffernan had two more chances before halftime; neither was made to count.
HALF TIME: 1-2
It was hard to believe that Notts were behind to Huddersfield, but the Yorkshire side were by no means unbeatable.
Craig Ireland, who was obviously still taking in the half time talk, managed to run out into completely the wrong half of the pitch to start the second period – but bearing in mind the teams had turned around before kick-off it was understandable. He must have been half way into the Huddersfield half before one of the players told him to turn round and go back to the other side.
Stallard tried to get Notts back level early in the second half with an over head kick 6 yards from goal, but failed to connect with Heffernan’s cross.
At the other end, Deeney was called into action to make a good save and stop Town making it 3-1.
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Despite looking like he wasn’t going to give Notts anything in the match, referee Mr Mathieson awarded the home side a penalty on 61 minutes. As always Mark Stallard stepped up to take the spot kick and committed keeper Phil Senior before chipping the ball into the net.
Willis Francis then came on in place of Kevin Nicholson. Ian Richardson switched to left back as Francis took his place in the midfield.
I think I would have settled for 2-2 after being behind twice in the game Notts kept going and were awarded a second penalty with just seconds of the 4 minutes injury time to play after Adi Moses handled in the box.
For the second time in the game Stallard took the penalty and coolly put the ball in the back of the net. I think the phrases "ice cool" and
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Despite a late onslaught by the Terriers Notts held on which means Notts have now only lost once in their last 10 games at Meadow Lane.
The Magpies are now 8 points off the drop zone again and a win next week could see us climb as high as 12th if other results went the right way (which, sadly, I can’t see them all doing looking at the fixture list!)