WYCOMBE WANDERERS 3-4 NOTTS COUNTY
Bloomfield '1 Bogdanovic '3
Basey Pen '17 Judge '40, '90+
Beavon '68 Adebola '89
Sometimes in football there are games that almost defy explanation, that are so anarchic and unpredictable that trying to make sense of them afterwards is an entirely futile exercise. Notts' dramatic win at Wycombe on Saturday can certainly go down as one of those occasions, with the match having swung violently between the two sides during an utterly absorbing ninety eight minutes of football.
Adams Park is an odd place to watch football. In fact, from the away end, the view is entirely of the trees and fields that enclose the home of both the Chairboys and London Wasps. In fact, the setting was as far removed from the breathless action on the pitch as is possible. Glancing over the opposite terrace and into the Chilterns was the only way of getting some brief respite from the turbulent, energy sapping game being played out infront of a healthy following from Nottingham, plenty of whom were decked out in costumes ranging from the Stig to a beer bottle.
The Notts following at Adams Park...
If ever you could envisage the ninety minutes that were to follow from the opening ninety seconds, then this game was the time. Almost straight from kick off, things began as they meant to continue, with the ball hitting the back of the net. Wycombe neatly played the ball out right to Matt Bloomfield, who ran at Alan Sheehan - the Notts left back retreating to somewhere in the car park - before hitting a reasonably well struck shot that somehow squeezed through Stuart Nelson. In truth, the Notts 'keeper is beginning to make himself unkeepable. From the moment the story appeared in the papers about him wanting a new, improved contract, the costly howlers that have often blighted him have become more and more common. Last week he allowed David Worrall's near post shot to give Bury the lead at Meadow Lane, but at least that was well struck. Bloomfield's effort should've been a comfortable take for a goalkeeper at pretty much any level, but Nelson let it through his grasp.
Not that the visitors dwelled on this early set back for long, equalising with their first foray forward. Kieron Freeman picked up the ball on the right, skipped past Grant Basey with embarrassing ease and played the ball across for Dele Adebola. His shot was charged down by Gary Doherty, but the ball fell kindly for Daniel Bogdanovic who confidently swept home his first goal for the club. The breathless pace continued, with Wycombe threatening again through a Bloomfield long ranger. Nelson should've gathered this one too, but could only spill it into the six yard box where he did well to recover and deny Ben Strevens with the help of Damion Stewart.
They didn't take too long to restore their lead though, albeit in controversial circumstances. At one end of the pitch, Marvin McCoy got himself in a horrible mess under no pressure and all but caught the ball in his own area in what can only be described as a convincing audition for the olympic volleyball squad. Wycombe broke, Freeman failed to clear his lines and Stuart Beavon tumbled under a challenge from Stewart. I say challenge, Stewart didn't really do anything to impede Beavon, who threw himself to the ground somewhat enthusiastically. Nonetheless, the referee pointed to the spot and Basey confidently stroked the ball into the bottom corner.
The Marvin McCoy school of defending...
Both sides continued to threaten throughout an engrossing half, with Adebola coming within inches of connecting with Freeman's inviting far post cross and the impressive Beavon finding enough space in the box to force a sharp save from Nelson. More goals were inevitable, and Notts had their leveller five minutes before the break. Jeff Hughes played a free kick short to Judge, who skipped inside a weak challenge before fizzing in a swerving shot that flashed past Nikki Bull and into the back of the net. It was a fantastic effort from Judge, who celebrated wildly infront of the travelling fans. Notts finished the half strongly too, with only a fantastic goalline clearance from McCoy denying Damion Stewart after he hooked a corner goalwards.
This pattern continued into the second period, with Freeman again causing problems for Basey and crossing for Adebola, whose powerful downward header was saved by the foot of Bull, who then managed to sit on the ball to prevent it from crossing the line. Stewart headed over from a corner and Judge forced a fine save from Bull with another powerful effort from the edge of the area as the Magpies began to turn the screw. Gavin Mahon and Lee Hughes came on for Neal Bishop and Bogdanovic as the search for a third continued, with Jeff Hughes coming close as his goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by Doherty.
Then, completely out of the blue, Wycombe struck. The linesman couldn't see the ball deflect off a Wycombe player last when Mahon made a challenge and the hosts took their fortuitous throw-in quickly, with Bloomfield's clever pass releasing Beavon who calmly slid home past the half advancing and half retreating Nelson. It was a hammerblow for Notts' play-off hopes, with two late goals now needed to harbour any realistic hopes going into the last day of the season.
The near side linesman at Wycombe...
As the minutes ticked by and the chances came and went - Bull saved brilliantly from Jeff Hughes and Lee Hughes had a flicked header disallowed for offside - hope was beginning to wane. We should've known better really - combine this game's capacity for chaos with Notts' season long ability to pinch late goals and we should've forseen the dramatic end. It all began when Judge's cross was flicked on by Edwards, allowing Adebola to nod home an 89th minute equaliser. The celebrations in the away end were half-hearted, with the knowledge that even a draw was unlikely to be enough to give Notts a reasonable chance. Five minutes of added time gave us hope though, and with three minutes of it having ticked away it was the irrepresable Judge who sparked scenes of madness in the away end.
A long kick by Nelson was flicked on by Hughes, Leon Johnson failed to clear and Judge latched onto it to smash an absolutely unstoppable shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. The next few seconds are a bit blurry, if i'm honest. All NCM can recall is being poleaxed by the incredible hulk, being elbowed in the face, nearly taking my dad's eye out and various cartoon characters spilling onto the pitch. A replay tells us that Judge whipped off his shirt and was taken down by a sea of black and white shirts. As NCM just about returned to some sort of calm, the Buckinghamshire Police decided it was reasonable to draw their batons on those most notorious of football hooligans Mr. Blobby and Darth Vader. Not that anyone really cared. There was still time for Demontagnac to make the best contribution of his season with a brilliant last ditch tackle at the far post, before the celebrations resumed at full time. Stevenage's draw at Bramall Lane means it remains out of Notts' hands, but the Magpies really are a long way from being out of this. See you next week.
Buckinghamshire Police react to Alan Judge's winner...