YouPies - a fan's view of Notts County FC

Notts County 1-1 Barnet

Lee Scored Two

Notts went into this match tonight knowing 3 points would get the Magpies back in the play-off hunt. The Notts manger Steve Thompson, made 2 changes for tonight’s game bringing Hun,t in for White, who is injured and McCann, came back into the squad with Silk, going to right back. The other surprise was that Ross, who re-joined the magpies on loan from Sheffield united only started on the bench.

Before the match started there was a minute’s silence for the memory of Neil Hook, a former chief executive.
Notts started this match attacking the kop end. In a scrappy start it took 11 minutes for Notts to get the first corner of the match. The corner came in from Smith, which the keeper dropped but manage to claim. From the attack Barnet went through and Pilkington, had to rush from his box and Head the Ball away outside his area.

It was Barnet who were the team putting the pressure on and it was Pilkington on 13 minutes who had to punch away a cross. On 16 minutes Lee and Martin combined to send Parkinson into the area and Parkinson was fouled. Dudfield stepped up to take the pen but Missed. The ref then ordered Notts to re-take the pen this time Dudfield, stepped up and scored. The wheelbarrow chant was now ringing around the lane. Silk crossed the ball on 21 minutes for Lee to flick on which came to nothing. After 24 minutes Hunt missed his kick but Birchall could not connect for Barnet. Martin played in Parkinson who seemed to be brought down on the edge but the ref said no free kick. Birchall was the Barnet player that was creating chances But Hunt and Edwards were stopping him.

Notts next attack came has Lee passed to Dudfield who’s cross was cleared for a throw, which McCann takes but Notts give away a free kick. The next chance came has Parkinson passed to Lee on 28 minutes who shoots over. Notts were to get another penalty when Somner passed to Parkinson on 35 minutes who is brought down again in the area and Notts get another penalty. The Barnet player Gross is booked and Dudfield steps up again and hits the bar this time to miss again. Smith had the next chance on 38 minutes but the keeper saved easy. On 40 minutes Puncheon attacks after Somner gave the ball away but Edwards covers well. No one side could keep the ball in a scrappy first half. Barnet get their first corner of the game in stoppage time at the end of the first half that comes to nothing. Lee gets the final chance from a Parkinson cross which ends in nothing has the half ends 1-0 to Notts in a half which will be remembered for the Penalty re-take on 17 minutes.

Barnet started the second half attacking the 143 fans that have travelled up from London. It was Notts that started the brighter of the two teams and on 46 minutes martin crossed a free kick, which created a chance for Smith who put it wide. Parkinson was the Notts man that was causing danger and it was only some good defending on 49 minutes that stopped the Notts man creating another chance. Lee was causing some danger and on 51 minutes the big forward earned Notts a free kick which Martin delivered it but Lee it the post but fouled the Barnet defender doing so. On 57 minutes Lee got his 12th yellow card of the season. Notts at this stage needed to get another goal because the visitors always had a chance only being 1-0 behind. After 60 minutes Thomo left his seat in the directors box to go down to the touchline knowing Notts needed another goal. On the hour Barnet played some nice football but has the normal nothing was created and Notts came away with the ball to go down the other end and win a free kick on the edge of the box. Martin runs up and shoots but the keeper saved stepping just to his side. On 68 minutes Smith volleyed just wide of the keepers left hand post. On 70 minutes Barnet had there best chance of the match when Birchall, had a chance which Pilkington, saved when the striker should of done better.

Barnet had another chance when Truncheon shot on 71 minutes, which Pilkington saved well. Notts were rattled at this stage and less than a minute later they won a free kick about 3 yards from the pen area which bailey takes and is deflected for a corner which when the corner is taken Barnet score through Bailey on 74 minutes. Barnet were the team playing the better football and it was the 41-year-old Hessenthaler controlling things in the middle. Bailey was the next to see yellow when he brings down Martin on 78 Minutes and Martin takes free kick to win corner. Smith takes the corner but hits the first defender and his cleared. On the 80th minute Martin is taken off and replaced by Junior Mendes. Barnet had another move, which came to nothing after looking promising for the Bees. Notts win there 3rd corner of the game which Smith takes and is cleared which in the action Dudfield is booked and a free kick is awarded when the Barnet wanted the play to continue. On 85 minutes Notts went looking for a winner but Parkinson could not finish.

The match now entered the 4 minutes that were to be added with most of the 3,010 wanted to see a Notts goal to get the points. Mendes has a run on 93 minutes and wins a corner after beating 2 players. Smith takes the corner that is cleared to Parkinson who shoots and is blocked and falls for Mendes who shoots wide in the last action of the game. Leaving the magpies 5 points off the play-offs in 8th place.

Ref : R Lewis

Att : 3,010

Half Time : Notts County 1-0 Barnet

Full Time : Notts County 1-1 Barnet