August started very much as though the season, as a whole, was destined to follow. Within three days of the season, the club was rocked by the news that midfield duo Stef Oakes and Chrissy Palmer were to be sidelined for the first few months of the season.
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On top of Oakes’ injury blow came injury to newly-signed winger Chrissy Palmer.
Palmer, who signed for the club just a month prior to his injury, was – like Oakes – to see his season halted before it had began, with the former Derby winger suffering ankle ligament damage during a pre-season friendly win over (ex) Championship side and close neighbours, Nottingham Forest.
Added to that the injuries of experienced defender Mike Whitlow as well as Saul Deeney for the opening day draw with Chester, and a recipe for disaster was well and truly mastered at the ‘Lane.
Without Deeney, Whitlow, Oakes and Palmer, however, the Magpies seemed to cope in the season’s opening encounter.
A soon to be trademark spot-kick from Julien Baudet, pictured, was to set the season off nicely – that, of course, until out-of-favour ‘keeper Steve Mildenhall was called into action for the first time, spilling a penalty save that lead to former County man Kevin Rapely.
A popular comeback in Notts fans’ eyes, I think not.
Then-manager Gary Mills, however, wasted little time in finding Deeney’s replacement in the side, as – by the ninth of the month – the Notts boss welcomed ROI under-21 and Aston Villa ‘keeper Wayne Henderson to the ‘Lane on a three month loan.
Keeping a clean sheet on his debut against Kidderminster, Henderson went from strength-to-strength in the Notts goal, justifying his place between the sticks with some accomplished performances.
Defeats against Bristol Rovers (2-1 – away) and Yeovil (2-1 – home) sent the Magpies to a lowly twenty-first standing with just four games played.
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The first of Notts’ goals coming from another unlikely source, Ian Richardson.
The record so far, in all competitions, did not make for happy reading for Magpies fans. One win (in the cup), two draws and two defeats told a story all of its own. When the chips were down, however, the Magpies failed to recover.
A devastating record of conceding three penalties in the opening five games of the season had certainly played their part in the Magpies early downfall.
County, however, succeeded in turning their fortunes around before the month ended, as a brace from winger Tony Scully either side of half-time helped secure an imopressive 2-1 win for the Magpies at local(ish) rivals, Lincoln City.
Despite victory, the Magpies found themselves in the wrong half of the newly-named League Two table, in a month that was expected to see the Magpies kick-start their promotion campaign. Maybe next month, eh.
The month of August went by as the Magpies finally agreed a payment with Premiership outfit, Southampton for teenage striking sensation, Dave McGoldrick.
The deal, that could, eventually, rise to around half-a-million pounds depending on appearances, saw McGoldrick join personal friend and former team-mate Leon Best at St. Mary’s.
For the continuation of NCM’s end of season review, be sure to check back to NCM over the next few days for the review of September.