FL2: Notts County v Torquay United 11th Oct 2009

Well, I wasn't going to go but at 11am yesterday I felt that I should. I managed to get to Meadow Lane from West London in a little over two hours despite Hanger Lane gyratory being clogged, the approach to IKEA being rammed and some dozy pillock in a Mercedes Estate who had managed to wrap his car around a bus shelter on the approach to the M1. I also seemed to be speaking Finnish when I asked some guy in the petrol station at Leicester Forest East for "Cashback".

So I got to Meadow Lane after passing the nearby Trent Bridge Cricket Ground which looked far more impressive than it did on my last visit to Nottingham back in 1995 and then past the City Ground where in the same year I was witness to a Forest v Man City match where the woeful city (Kinkladze excepted) managed to lose 3-0 to a Forest side which had Jason Lee and Andrea Silenzi up front. I parked for 3 quid in the cattle market and made my way down the road to the Jimmy Sirrel stand. 20 quid to get in was a bit steep. Considering the cash they have in reserve it’s a bit of a cheek to charge fans so much.

Contrary to the Meadow Lane guide on the usually excellent www.footballgroundguide.com I found that the stewards were quite relaxed and very friendly. Apparently they'd had Port Vale there recently and they caused a bit of bother and some damage.

Their fans, were reasonably vocal, housed to our right, and sang a few rousing songs, plus that song Liverpool nicked from Celtic and then included a few rallying cries of "You Pies!", to which I instantly thought "bugger off, I haven't eaten any for ages!". They got behind their side in a big way from kick off and soon looked dangerous. The referee set the tone after a couple of minutes by giving a foul on Lee Hughes after Hughes flung himself to the floor like he'd trodden on a mine. Both he and Luke Rodgers (another vile little toe-rag) looked dangerous and there were a few danger signs before Hughes stole in and had a free header to which Poke made an excellent reflex save. Poke had gone spare twice before as both attackers looked to exploit the space in between our three centre halves.

We can argue about both their goals. The Linesman seemed not to be giving Notts County forwards offside unless the ball made it though to them. All he was doing was to keep not giving offside when they were and for us to half volley it clear straight back to them. The first goal was offside. There were two of them in an offside position. You have to say that Westcarr took his chance superbly though. Nothing Poke could do about that.

I had a horrible sinking feeling. Usually when you play at a bigger club and they 1-0 up it becomes a little reminiscent of throwing Christians to the lions but I thought we weathered the storm quite well and started to create a couple of half chances, nothing clear-cut, though just enough to suggest that Schmeichel junior might be a bit iffy against crosses and their centre halves might be a bit on the ponderous side.

The second goal came from a free kick which should never have been awarded. Lovely free kick mind you but it’s a bit annoying to think that Notts County needed any more help. After they scored we looked quite threatening and we deservedly pulled one back. As the half time whistle blew it was like that scene in Rocky 4 when Rocky Balboa had just managed to belt Ivan Drago one in the chops for the first time in the fight and realised he could hurt him!

The second half there was only one team in it. Everybody stepped him their game. Thompson had a fine second half as did Hargreaves which in turn afforded Nicky Wroe a bit more time to run things a little bit more. The front two looked cohesive and the back 3 were solid with Charnock getting the measure of Hughes. Nicholson, barracked for being a "County reject" by the home fans, put in a string of dangerous free kicks, crosses and throw-ins into the box. Schmeichel junior flapped at everything, with Mark Ellis looking like he would score almost every time. He should have done from the cross of the match from Thompson. He headed wide. I groaned and wondered if we'd get a better chance. I needn't have worried. A few minutes later a Nicholson corner made Schmeichel flap again and Sills benefited from the mayhem caused by Ellis. Their fans then started to walk out in disgust. Buckle continued to gesture from the touchlines for all the big men to get in the box for any subsequent throw in or set piece.

There was a brief moment or two down the other end. A cross cum shot hit the post and Poke saved well from a Hughes shot towards the end.

So 2-2. Honours even. Would I have taken 2-2 before the game? Yes. 2-2 at half time? Probably yes. But at full time there was a slight tinge of disappointment that we didn't sneak a richly deserved winner. But its another step in right direction. If the boys keep playing with the effort show in the second half with our new formation I think we'll be moving up the table sooner rather than later.

MOTM? I thought they were all splendid in the second half. I wouldn't argue if anyone said Mark Ellis deserved it, although Charnock and Thompson were also excellent. Fair play also to Sills for failing to react to intense provocation from that Scumbag Hughes who tried to get the yellow carded Sills sent off by falling to the ground and looking like he'd just been gang raped in the prison showers. Serving 3 years out of the 6 given to him by the judge doesn't seem right to me when causing death and serious injury by being drunk and then fleeing from the scene.

Here's some photos. I haven't got the Pinnacle bloke's setup but here goes…

Ratcliffe on Soar Power station. Remember the opening from Get Carter.