Beaten Notts Fall Out Of Playoff Zone

Notts County 0-1 Eastleigh (National League) 17.04.21

Another loss for Ian Burchnall’s side and a third successive defeat in the league is painful to take as Notts fall out of the playoff zone in the National League.

It was again a 3-4-3 formation for County who went with the three centre halves and three attackers in search of finding the right formula for their promotion push but it was not to be as Eastleigh deservedly took the points and themselves closed the gap on the Magpies to two. County now in eighth and falling out of form.

A good early move by Notts in the opening ten minutes saw Rawlinson cross into Chicksen who volleyed over from six yards out and on 26 minutes, it was role reversal as Chicksen’s set-piece delivery from a corner was headed back by the big centre half to his partner Ben Turner who crashed an effort towards goal well blocked. County showing early promise.

A minute before half time Notts has an opportunity in fact to take the lead when Griffiths crossed into Wootton who headed over, and that spurned opportunity proved costly only 60 seconds later when House gave Eastleigh the lead. The forward knocking the ball past a defender after a clever short corner saw him unleash in at the near post to catch Slocombe off guard.

Notts came out the blocks quickly in the second half with Griffiths shooting from long range, an effort turned around the posts by McDonnell on 47 before Enzio Boldewijn was brought on to replace Lewis Knight as Burchnall shuffled his pack.

Miley blazed over on 61 for Eastleigh before Wootton hit wide for Notts four minutes later, Slocombe then made a save to deny Marriott and Notts again went close when Griffiths curled a first time effort over on 72.

Into the final ten minutes, Knowles stung the palms of McDonnell from a tight angle and County pushed for a leveller but an Eastleigh defence well-marshalled by ex-Notts defender Pierce Bird stood the test well, the Hampshire based side now two points and two places behind the Magpies in tenth.

Notts County: Slocombe, Kelly-Evans, Rawlinson, Lacey, Turner (O’Brien 72), Chicksen, Reeves, Griffiths (Miller 72), Knight (Boldewijn 57), Knowles, Wootton.

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Bird, Boyce, Hollands (Hill 86), Green, Marriott (Barnett 78), Miley, House, Smart, Payne, Partington.

Venue: Meadow Lane

*Main image @Official_NCFC action from Meadow Lane as County are beaten again.

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