Season Review: March

Last updated : 10 June 2005 By Rob Davies
March was a month that summed up the season for Notts County. Beginning with an excellent win over now-promoted Swansea City and ending with a tremendous victory over Champions-elect Yeovil Town, it was the four defeats to mediocre opposition between that was the problem.

The inconsistency that had plauged the Magpies' throughout the campaign was again very much in evidence.

The win over Swansea came courtesy of a goal from popular striker Mark Stallard, his first since returning to the club on-loan a month prior to the strike.

Stallard: Great month
The victory over the Welsh side also meant that the Magpies had gone five games unbeaten and it also left Ian Richardson's men 14 points clear of the dreaded relegation zone.

It was all to go so badly wrong a week later though when struggling Kidderminster Harriers rolled into town. With Kidderminster notoriously useless on their travels - and at home for that matter - it appeared the perfect oppurtunity for Notts to extend their unbeaten run.

However, a nightmare afternoon eventually culminated in a 3-1 home defeat to the eventually-relegated Harriers.

It was a bad day for all concerned at Meadow Lane, with the optimism generated from the unbeaten run coming crashing down. Young centre backs Emmet Friars and Kelvin Wilson struggled badly for the first time at senior level, whilst out-of-form striker Glynn Hurst had yet another 'mare at home.

Referee Kevin Friend was also prominent in the defeat, awarding the visitors two controversial spot-kicks to help them on their way, with the latter awarded for an alleged stamp by goalkeeper Saul Deeney - who was red carded for his offence.

Another goal from Stallard was not enough to cloud what was a terrible afternoon for the Magpies.

Richo: Hero, villian, then hero again
If that game was bad though, things were only to get worse for the mid-week trip to Boston.

Despite the scoreline remaining blank for 62 minutes, the Magpies left York Street after receiving a 4-0 drubbing from the hosts, who had been a non-league club just two seasons prior. A truly awful night.

Captain Mike Whitlow returned from injury for the fixture but was clearly a world away from being fully fit and did himself more damage, whilst 18-year-old on-loan goalkeeper Rob Elliot endured a nightmare full debut between the sticks, with Deeney beginning a three-match ban.

The entire morale at the club had been swang in the space of four days, but there was brief respite for under-pressure Richardson, who managed to secure his one and only permanent signing as manager two days following the Boston debacle.

18-year-old Australian midfielder Ruben Zadkovich was the man in question, penning a 14-month contract after being told his services were no longer required at QPR.

As one arrived, it seemed another was set to move in the other direction, with forgotten man Chris Palmer quoted in the press as saying he wants to leave the Magpies.

Young winger Palmer had been frozen out by Richardson for a number of weeks, but would eventually return for the final few games of the season.

Back to on-the-pitch matters, and things weren't improving as Notts succumbed to a 3-2 defeat away at lowly Chester City.

Hitman Glynn Hurst had ended yet another goal drought to give the Magpies the lead, but more shaky defending saw the visitors fall behind to goals from Stewart Drummond and Michael Branch (2). Despite a debut goal from the impressive Zadkovich, the Magpies were to fall to their third defeat in a row.

Following the defeat, morale on the NCM messageboard was at an all-time low, with support for Richardson few and far between. How quickly things would change...

Ruben: Good start
The bad month was to only get worse for Richardson, with the Notts player/boss informed that his knee injury would rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.

The Notts boss was then to openly criticise the County board, after they vetoed two possible transfer deadline day moves for fresh players.

Richardson's words were ill-timed and un-wise and would ultimately prove a big factor in the decision not to give him the manager's job beyond the season.

Meanwhile, interesting off-the-field news was that the club would no longer continue to have a reserve side entered in the Pontins Reserve League.

The Magpies were to continue their terrible run of form with a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Bristol Rovers, their fourth succesive loss in a row. The result left Notts just 7 points clear of the relegation zone.

The defeat did see the return to first-team action of striker Steve Scoffham though, after 10 months on the sidelines with a broken leg.

Before the month was out though, Richardson's men were to halt the slide in the most surprising fashion.

The Magpies travelled to top of the table Yeovil more in hope then expectation, but produced their best display of the season at the most unexpected time to come away from Huish Park with a 3-1 victory.

An outstanding performance from midfielder Stefan Oakes was capped with a 45-yard lob, whilst further goals from Hurst and Stallard was to seal the victory.

Alas, a terrible month ended on an upbeat note.

Richardson was a God again, Palmer was back in the side and Hurst had scored three in three. Happy days.

For the finale of the season review, check back to NCM over the weekend.