We're singing in the rain!

Last updated : 14 August 2005 By Rob Davies
The Magpies continued their impressive form under Gudjon Thordarson, after goals from Steve Scoffham and captain Julien Baudet cancelled out Nat Brown's opener for the visitors.

The difference Thordarson has made since his arrival was no-more in evidence then this afternoon. The performance was by no means a vintage display, but a combination of hard-work, great determination and positional sense was in evidence with each and every Notts County player and, that alone, was enough to steer the Magpies to their second succesive home win.

Whilst it's all too easy to get carried away, the Iceman is making a big impression at Meadow Lane. Despite conceding their first goal of the campaign today, the defence was again a solid unit - with goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington rarely tested.

Long: On the bench
The win was also Notts' third in succession against Lincoln, with Keith Alexander's team barely recogniseable from the side that finished 6th in League Two last season, though their style of play - the HOOF - largely remained and it made for a difficult game that Thordarson's team coped with well.

The Iceman made no changes to the team that disposed of Wrexham in mid-week, with match-winner Stacy Long again having to settle for a spot on the bench. Ex-Imp Gavin Gordon was re-called though, and was named in the squad of 16 for the first time this season in place of Matthew Gill.

What was also noticeable was that Mike Whitlow - officially installed as a player/coach yesterday - was extremely prominent in the warm-up.

County may have eventually won the game, but it was Lincoln who made all the early running in the encounter, with ex Mansfield forward Derek Asamoah heading into the side-netting from a long throw early on.

However, with the game being played in torrential rain, further chances were proving hard to come-by for Alexander's men, until, that is, they broke the deadlock in the 18th minute.

If there is to be one criticism of Thordarson so far it is his insistence on bringing all 11 players back to defend corners, with its weaknesses exposed in the worst possible way for Lincoln's opener.

Francis Green's inswinging corner was initially cleared, though the ball eventually found it's way to midfielder Brown - whose massive physical presence make him an ideal player for Alexander's team - who volleyed the ball home superbly from 25 yards.

County were struggling somewhat, with an attacking corner often being turned into a City counter-attack thanks to the pacy figures of Asamoah and Green. However, despite conceding their first goal of the campaign, the Magpies rearguard remained unfazed - with captain Julien Baudet again ably supported by Kelvin Wilson.

With Lincoln renowned for their long-ball tactics throughout League Two, it was ironic that the Magpies' 39th minute equaliser came from a long punt straight from the hands of Kevin Pilkington.

Scoffham: First goal since March '04
Pilkington had claimed the ball moments after Asamoah had infuriated the home support with a shambolic dive whilst Rob Ullathorne shielded the ball towards his goalkeeper.

After giving his old Mansfield team-mate a roasting, Pilkington then launched a gigantic hoof downfield in the blustery conditions. His kick was flicked-on by Andy White and steered home by Scoffham, possibly via the help of a deflection.

It was the scrappiest of scrappy goals, but it was just the tonic that Notts needed and Lincoln were never the same force for the remaining 60 minutes of the game.

It was also a well-deserved effort from Scoffham, who looks a vastly-improved player after the faith shown in him by Thordarson and a full pre-season.

Predictably, the yellow-socked Alexander berated referee Martin Atkinson after the match for not awarding his team a spot-kick - citing the incident as the game's turning point. It was, but - as surely the Lincoln manager knows - it was never a penalty.

Half time: Notts County 1-1 Lincoln City

Whilst it seemed nothing short of startling that the first half had bred two goals, the second period - after the pouring rain had stopped during the interval - was where Thordarson's Magpies really came into their own.

The work-rate from all outfield players was outstanding, with Alexander's sluggers often struggling to keep hold of their hosts' coat-tails.

Baudet was the first to have an effort on goal in the second period, heading the lively Chris Palmer's corner kick narrowly over the bar.

Jules
The Frenchman wasn't to be denied for long, however, and three minutes later he gave the Magpies the lead.

Makeshift midfielder Mike Edwards - who typified the improvement shown after the break - made an excellent break down the left-side, before crossing for David Pipe, who was denied an excellent goal-scoring oppurtunity by a late tackle from left-back Paul Mayo.

Mayo may have been lucky to escape a caution, but Baudet wasn't likely to let the visitors of the hook. With the free-kick dead centre of goal from around 20 yards, the skipper powered the ball past the wall and, though Marriot could get a hand to his strike, the sheer power of it took it into the net and sparked jubilant celebrations in-front of the Jimmy Sirrel Stand.

With the game just over an hour old, Thordarson opted to make his first substitution - replacing White, who struggled against a centre back at least two inches taller then himself - with Gavin Gordon, making his first appearence of the season against his former club.

The much-mallinged forward's emergence from the bench brought one or two murmurs of discontent from the home following, but Gordon was to immediately prove that - like many of a team-mates - he was a different proposition to what we had seen last season.

With the ball looking lost, Gordon threw himself into a challenge with visiting skipper Lee Beevers - leaving the Welsh under-21 star in a crumpled heap - before cleanly winning the ball, cutting into the penalty area, and riffling a goal-bound shot that was deflected over the bar for a corner.

If ever any fans were looking to see what improvements had been made under Thordarson, they need just to be shown the video of this segment of play. Quite brilliant.

The Magpies were gaining in confidence, and slowly inserting their dominance on the game. That said confidence was personified by Pipe, who tried a shot from all of 35 yards that flew narrowly wide of Marriot's upright.

Shortly after the effort, Thordarson made his second substitution in the 68th minute. Tuesday night's match-winner Stacy Long entered the fray, to replace the much-improved Palmer.

Calm down, Derek
Long was immediately looking lively on the left wing, making a number of intelligent runs down the channel.

Shortly after the former Charlton man's introduction though, and Lincoln came painfully close to an equaliser thanks again to Asamoah. The former Stag's low effort initially looked too tame to trouble Pilkington, but the keeper was eventually forced into an excellent save after the shot skidded swiftly off the wet surface.

County were defending strongly, with Pilkington's save from Asamoah the only time he was really tested in the entire encounter. Once again, Baudet and Wilson proved more than capable of dealing with the high balls, whilst full-backs Ullathorne and Brian O'Callaghan also coped admirably at the back, despite their lack of natural pace.

What's more, the Magpies were also squandering chances to put the game beyond doubt. Twice, the otherwise-excellent Scoffham passed-up chances to send a team-mate through on goal on the counter attack, whilst Long came close with a dipping 30-yarder.

Lincoln were pushing hard for an equaliser, but weren't being allowed close enough to the goal to test Pilkington. Their 1,500 travelling supporters had to wait until the 90th minute for their best effort, with Mayo swirling a 30-yarder narrowly over the bar.

The three minutes of stoppage time proved more entertaining then nerve-wracking, with Ullathorne booked for time-wasting and the travelling supporters bizarelly getting agitated with the County ball-boys.

The ball-boys didn't care, though, and neither did we. The visitors - for all the whinging of manager, supporters and players - had lost to the better team and County were extremely good value for their win.

It may seem a strange thing to say after a workmanlike, unpretty win, but it was a joy to watch.

Full Time: Notts County 2-1 Lincoln City

A display that proved just why Thordarson was an inspired appointment. These players will never be world-beaters - some would struggle just one league above the one we currently lie - but, suddenly, they know their limitations and are working well - together - within them.

It's often said that if a player gives 100% it's all you can ask. For the first time post-Allardyce, we are seeing that from every Notts County player. As supporters, we can ask for no more.

Long may it continue.

Match Ratings to follow.