Notts County Match Reports

[Santa Barbara Bee]

QPHa and Fulham lose, Bees pull it out with a last minute winner -- what a day! Was it really that close or should we have won 6-1? Give us your comments here lads.

 

[Greenford Bee]

Bees played the 'Get out of jail card' today.

First half, Bees attacking Ealing Road with a very strong wind behind us. We created three or four excellent chances (especially one that fell to Darren Powell) and had about fifteen long range efforts. Notts County started fairly brightly but we were completely on top with the team performing quite well against opposition who were physical and set out to spoil.

Second half. More of the same for approx 25 minutes although one or two Bees players dropped off in terms of their performance. To be fair, the Magpies had created some pressure before their goal (it appeared that Ijah lost his player but we will see when the video is available). Steve waited for ten minutes before bringing on Martin for Gav. A few minutes later a Martin cross from the left was handled in the area giving Evo the chance to convert from the spot. Bees pushed up, Notts C tried to waste time and a Lloydy cross looped over their centre half and sat up for Ben to lash it in.

Smithy, Ivar, Sidwell, Dobbo and Hunty gave competent performances.

Evo and Lloydy worked very hard and in my IMHO fought out the MOTM award.

Ijah was OK except for his crossing which is terrible (always has been though)

Darren had a couple of dodgy moments but was not really troubled. Gav looked solid and was possible rested for sweeper type performances in the upcoming games.

Ben seems not to like the really physical approach of the stuggling teams but again did the biz when it counted.

Virtually all the other results went our way and hopefully we can play some football against the likes of Oldham and Bristol City rather than battling away with the stugglers.

 

[Holysmit]

Missed the first 25 minutes but the first half we dominated but couldn't score Burgess missed a header from about 6 yards I think the ref would have dissallowed it for a push. Then Mahon and Powelly auditioned for a game for the Broncos by shooting miles over (Powell from about 6 yards out)the remainder of the first half stayed the same and we went in at half time.

After Half Time we started the stronger side once again but County had a very strong patch for about 10 minutes and took the lead when Darren Caskey was allowed a free diving header when Smith and Ijah could not agree on what to do about the ball. Smith failed to come for anything for a strong part in the second half and I think this may have been because he was not wearing a hat and couldn’t see anything till the sun went down.

The bees picked up the pace after the goal but didn’t look like scoring as they appeared to be trying to walk the ball into the net. During this time Notts County did look like they may extend there lead on the counter attack but the ball never broke for them properly. The introduction of Martin Rowlands upped the urgencies in the Brentford team and it was his cross which was handled by a hapless Notts County defender which the referee gave quite rightly as a penalty. Evo stepped up and calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to level the game up.

The Brentford players ran back to the centre spot and looked determined to finish the game off for the last ten minutes. This didn’t look like happening as Rowlands had a shot cleared of the line which rebounded of Burgess and somehow into the keepers arms. Finally in the last minute the ball feel to Burgess from a good cross from Ijah (????) fell to him and he calmly slotted the ball home to take the 3 points.

In the end I think we probably did deserve the 3 points

 

[Isleworth Bee]

I think the cross for BBBS winner was by Lloyd not Ijah.

Suppose Coppell will be feeling (rightly) a little smug as a lot of people were calling for BBB to be substituted. To be fair he didn't have a great game but popped up at the right time thank goodness.

The substitution he did make probably helped turn the game back in our favour as Rowlands made the first goal with excellent work in the box. Hopefully Rowly will get a bit of a run in the side now as he is the sort of player that can make a difference on a frustrating day like today.

Disappointing crowd (only 5300 after the last two home matches being 6600+). Where was everybody?

Overall a fairly decent performance and game in difficult conditions. It would have been a travesty if we hadnt got all the points. Notts County are a poor, spoiling type of side and wont be missed when they depart this division to Div 3 shortly.

 

[Stanley]

Strange game...we dominated for long periods with possession and chances and tried a more passing game than in recent games. But a combination of an inability to hit the target, a resilient County side and at times the ball just not going our way ( twice shots rebounded into the keepers arms when they could have gone in)led to frustration.

In the end though deep joy, when you score the winner in the last minute the rest of the game seems irrelevant

Two things changed it for me...firstly them scoring first (a weakness seems to be far post headers) gave the team more urgency and then the introduction of Rowly gave us that guile we needed. His first touch was a jinx in the box surrounded by three players that led to the (very clear) handball and penalty.

Credit to Coppell for not only bringing Rowly on changing tactics to give him a more free role behind the strikers....subtle but effective.

Other results went our way.......methinks this could turn out to be a crucial comeback at the end of the season.We have to win these games as well as those gainst the better teams.

 

[BoroBee]

Having sat throught the 0-0 at County earlier in the season, at half-time I had fears this was going the same way. We dominated so much of the game, I'm amazed it wasn't a stroll in the park, but that ball just was not going in the net for much of the game!
The County goal really gave us a boot in the pants and I always felt that we would win eventually - we cut it fine though and like Peterboro last week, if we deserve to go up automatically we should be thumping poor teams like this.
Anyway - three points are three points and up to 3rd

I thought BBB and Hunty had poor games today - Darren was surely MoM?

 

[Silly Chip]

Notts County were a very poor side and on this showing will struggle to be a mid table side in the 3rd....Stoke must be on their way to mid-table if they couldn't score against this lot last week. Bees played well the whole game save for a defensive slip regarding the County goal and some below par finishing by the Bees. Evo had I think his best game in a Bees shirt and there was a lot of smart intricate passing played by the Bees today. If they play in the same manner vs Oldham/Bristol C I can see us gaining a win, we just didn't have our finishing boots on today. Well done Rowly for the pass that let to the penalty and well done Owusu for the assist for Burgess. Burgess had a shocker of a game today....thankfully Coppell kept him on. Strange weather today; 30 minutes before kick off blue sky and few clouds but a strong chill factor wind....5 minutes later black skies, floodlights on and a snowstorm....kick off, blue sky again! How 800 people disappeared from today's gate I have no idea....did Bournemouth bring 2000 fans to Griffin Park? - I suppose it's a week before pay day.
Anyhow, the lads played well and got a deserved result. We had a bad finishing day but yes we could of and should of won this game by a clear 4 goals. When County scored I felt the Bees were mugged and it was just going to be 1 of those luckless days we have all witnessed in the past....but thankfully we had the last laugh. Roll on Oldham...we should be in a confident mood!

 

[Rob Bartram]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Isleworth Bee:

Disappointing crowd (only 5300 after the last two home matches being 6600+). Where was everybody?
</font>

I know that was the 'official' attendance, but surely there was more than that there? Certainly looked like it to me!

 

[Simon W]

I sat in the Upper Tier of Brook Rd today, for the first time and I could not believe that there was so many seats with "reserved" stickers on them that were empty.

 

[Russell]

I thought the referee was very good today. He could've played advantage a bit more and he cocked up on a foul throw in the 1st half, but it was almost a pleasure to watch him!!!

 

[Turnstile Bee]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Rob Bartram:
I know that was the 'official' attendance, but surely there was more than that there? Certainly looked like it to me!</font>

Notts only bought 400 today, if that! Around 100 seats and 300 standing. In the last couple of games the away attendances have been in the 1000's (Cardiff and Brighton)! On that basis 5300 is a pretty good attendance if you ask me!


[This message has been edited by Turnstile Bee (edited 23 February 2002).]

 

[Turnstile Bee]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Simon W:
I sat in the Upper Tier of Brook Rd today, for the first time and I could not believe that there was so many seats with "reserved" stickers on them that were empty.</font>

I would think thats because either the people are standing up or they are not sat in their reserved seats!

 

[hants in my pants]

i was very impressed by the way the lads kept
passing to feet.we aleays looked dangerous this way, and didn`t have to resort to the
big hoof.evo was back to his best,keeping the game simple and lloyd`s movement gave the
midfield plenty of options.a very well earned 3 points.

 

[Heston Bee]

Not much to add to the above, other than it wasn't the most spectacular advertisement for Div 2 football.
Oh, and Notts County are quite possibly the worst side I've seen in this division.

 

[nocoat]

Do we really have to have this attendence debate every bloody week, it is so boring, if they say 5300 there was 5300, similarly last week we took 863 ish people to boro, not 1000+ bees. do you really think the club would risk disgrace, relegation etc. etc. to save a few grand in tax?

Anyway match report, what can you say, that is the man united team spirit gracing the true theatre of dreams, never ever give up, made mine and many others weekend, and what those two extra points may mean at the end of the season. YOU REDS

 

[Simon C]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by hants in my pants:
i was very impressed by the way the lads kept
passing to feet.we aleays looked dangerous this way, and didn`t have to resort to the
big hoof.</font>

Totally agree with this. They looked like they were trying to pass it all the way through. It didn't always work which led to a few moans in the first half but when we keep passing it we always make chances and we always score. Simple as that.

 

[I Predict A Riot]

I've got one thing to add, what a bloody throw by Smith to Rowlands on the New Road side, only for Rowlands to get swamped by some Notts County players. Good thinking & a great move even though it didn't come to anything.

 

[finchbee]

bit of a shocker I felt. how powelly managed to miss his chance. lloyd worked hard with not much reward. From where I was, ijah looked to be at fault for their goal. Evo took the penalty well. Rowly looked good, and I felt Mahon was useless in possibly last game for the club

 

[Bee49]

WE should have had a hatful but at least we were making the chances even if we wasted them.Another day like Brighton,they go in.
Good to see passing football back and Evo was my MOM with Owusu running close.
Oldham have a good home record but can be leaky at the back,lets hope we have a go at them.

 

[finchbee]

this may seem a bit cynical but after seeing their goal on the video highlights i feel that Smith may have been able to come and get the cross. it hung in the air for a long time and the header was on the 6 yard box.

also Lloydy looked to have got fouled on the goal, interesting to know what would have been the outcome had we had a freekick.

2 great crosses from Lloydy and Rowly

 

[Trandy]

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