Notts were given an unexpected boost when during the warm up, first choice ‘keeper Scott Shearer – a former team-mate of David Pipe’s at Coventry – injured his back and had to be replaced by 36-year old goalkeeping coach, Steve Book.
And almost Book's first act of the afternoon was to pick the ball out of the back of the net after a shock 6th-minute goal from Chillingworth, playing his last game of his initial one-month loan spell.
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Rovers tried to hit back, but with a Kelvin Wilson-free defence well marshalled by Julien Baudet, they were constantly frustrated by the linesman’s flag.
On one occasion when Rovers did break the offside trap, however, it took a brilliant last ditch tackle by Brian O’Callaghan to ensure Notts would lead at the break.
The second half began with Rovers attacking their home end, but nothing seemed to change as Notts stood firm and the playoff-chasing home side were denied any really threatening goal attempts.
This was to change, however, with a controversial equaliser though just ten minutes after the restart.
Makeshift striker Lewis Haldane - in for the suspended Junior Agogo - received the ball on the left hand side of the Notts 18 yard box and, with everybody expecting the flag to be raised for what was a obvious offside decision, let fly with a splendid shot across Kevin Pilkington and into the top corner of the goal.
The 200 Notts supporters must now have feared the worst, but full credit to Gudjon Thordarson's side as they stayed tight and were not in anyway shaken by the goal. It was, in fact, Notts who would ‘up’ their game in a hope of a winner, with Chris Palmer hitting a fierce shot narrowly over.
Thordarson then replaced surprise-starter Andy White – who had, in all fairness, battled well at both ends of the field – with Steve Scoffham.
The move clearly had an unnerving effect on the Rovers defence, Scoffham’s direct approach clearly not to their liking.
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Typically, Scoffham (pictured left) would pick up a booking shortly after his introduction for, perhaps even more predictably, kicking the ball away.
Despite a late move to replace former Mansfield man Craig Disley with Ali Gibb in the last 10 minutes, Rovers couldn’t create even a half chance, and the points were Notts.
Full time: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Notts County
NCM would like to thank Rob for submitting this report to the site staff.