Wycombe make it five defeats in six for Magpies

Last updated : 26 November 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Under pressure: McParland saw his side record yet another defeat.
If there is such a thing in football as a respectable defeat then Notts County achieved it against unbeaten league two leaders Wycombe Wanderers.

This verdict is justified by the fact that Notts showed far more commitment than in their 6-1 drubbing at Dagenham on Saturday.

Indeed, at the end of the first half, Notts were well in the game with neither side having achieved a breakthrough and the home side having come closer than Wycombe to doing so.

Their first corner of the contest, in the 17th minute, was beautifully flighted by Lewis Neal and met with a firm header from Jamie Forrester.

Visiting goalkeeper Scott Shearer was initially unsighted but, at the last second, got down to his left to make the save.

Then, within two minutes of the re-start, Wycombe began to take a stranglehold on the game with a well worked goal.

It proved costly when a Notts attack broke down from which Tommy Doherty took possession, produced a strong run and then gave the ball to Angelo Balanta, who laid it on a plate for Matt Harrold to finish off at close range with the simplest of opportunities.

Wycombe thereafter always looked the likeliest winners as Notts were unable to raise their game and offered very few threats to Shearer despite a change of formation.

Wycombe sealed a fifth away win with a free-kick that owed everything to a routine perfected on the training ground.

Franck Moussa tapped the ball to Lewwis Spence, who unleashed a piledriver with his left foot which gave Notts goalkeeper Russell Hoult not a hope of making the save.

Late on both sides had penalty claims turned down, but by then Wycombe were coasting it.