Late Lacey Leveller Earns Notts Point

Notts County 1-1 Yeovil Town (National League) 05.03.22

Notts County were held to just a point at Meadow Lane by Yeovil Town, despite another dominant performance.

The first real opportunity to take the lead early on fell to the hosts. A swift attack from the Magpies saw a dinked ball from Elisha Sam find the feet of Adam Chicksen. With space and time to fire towards goal, the goal bound effort was well-held by Grant Smith.

Shortly after this opportunity, Notts County had two golden chances to put themselves ahead. The first fell to Elisha Sam, whose darted header was stopped fantastically by Smith. The ball eventually rebounded to Kyle Wootton and his effort was also stopped to complete an incredible double save by Yeovil Town’s number one.

An opening twenty minutes which saw the hosts completely dominated concluded with the most clear-cut opportunity being squandered. A delightful ball into the penalty area from Cal Roberts was met by Ruben Rodrigues. However, the Portuguese midfielder’s diving header was put wide from point blank range.

A good opening to the game for Ian Burchnall’s side was dampened eight minutes after as club captain Kyle Cameron went down to the deck clutching his hamstring. The centre-half was replaced by Alex Lacey immediately but admittedly injuries to key players are the last things Notts need coming up to this month’s action-packed schedule.

The visitors registered a good chance to take the lead before the break. A free kick from deep into the Magpies’ half was well-struck by Dale Gorman. However, the fierce effort was well-held by Vitezslav Jaros for the final passage of action before the break.

Following off the conclusion of the break, the visitors went ahead. A poor pass back from deep in the Magpies’ half left Jaros in trouble from early doors. The Czech goalkeeper got to the ball, but only cleared as far as Alex Bradley who had the easy task of finishing into an empty net to give his side the lead.

After falling behind, Notts came within inches of finding an equaliser. Sublime trickery from Cal Roberts led to the winger drilling the ball low and hard into the feet of Rodrigues. The attacking midfielder’s effort was turned behind for a corner in which the hosts failed to capitalise on.

The referee added nine minutes of injury time on and within that time available, the Magpies found their equaliser. A delightful in-swinging delivery saw Alex Lacey rise highest to flick thew ball beyond Grant Smith for a hugely deserved equalising goal.

Despite the deserved equaliser, time ran out for Notts to find a winner. A week that looked as if it was ending sour with a defeat today now looks slightly better courtesy of Lacey’s goal. However, still plenty of work to be done if that automatic promotion place is still in the Magpies’ sight.

Notts County: Jaros, Chicksen, Cameron (Lacey 28), Rawlinson, Richardson (Kelly-Evans 57), Francis (Mitchell 79), Palmer, Rodrigues, Roberts, Sam, Wootton.

Yeovil Town: Smith, Little, Wilkinson, Barclay, Williams, Staunton, Gorman, Bradley (D’Ath 65), Knowles (Reid 87), Barnett (Worthington 79), Wakefield.

Venue: Meadow Lane (6,943)