Notts County 3-0 Weymouth (National League) 22.05.21
A seventh game unbeaten and an impressive performance at home in front of the fans was enough to secure Notts a place in the playoffs with a game to spare.
Ian Burchnall’s side were magnificent against a Weymouth outfit with nothing to play for and went ahead from the penalty spot on 25 minutes after Ruben Rodrigues calmly converted his eleventh league goal of the campaign.
Four minutes later Kyle Wootton got the last touch to net his fifteenth of the campaign after Rodrigues free kick looped up off the wall and Notts might have made it three before the break, Ellis heading back a Rodrigues corner to Brindley who nodded on to the woodwork before Miller dragged the rebound wide.
Notts continued to stamp their authority in the second half and on 64 minutes, substitute Enzio Boldewijn got in on the act, a timely finish from Wootton’s lay off for a seventh of the campaign from the Dutchman.
The home side pushed for more until the end as they aimed to please their 4,197 fans who were allowed in the stadium for the first time in 14 months, At the final whistle it was cheers from the home support despite Notts not increasing their margin to a more deserved tally, the win taking the team to the 70 point tally and now fifth in the table, they can still end up playing one of either Hartlepool, Stockport, Wrexham, Chesterfield, Bromley, Eastleigh or Halifax, after of course, they end the regular season against Bromley on Saturday.
After the match a lot of relief and excitement from the Notts players with Calvin Miller saying “what a win, playoffs secured” and Richard Brindley furthering “Wow! What a turn out today. To walk and feel that atmosphere again was enjoyable. We’ve missed you all.”
Brindley continuing “We were aggressive and positive in our play – a strong win and clean sheet. A good day to confirm our playoff spot.
Notts County: Slocombe, Brindley, Chicksen, Ellis, Kelly-Evans (Boldewijn 60), Doyle, Miller, O’Brien, Reeves (Sam 80), Rodrigues (Griffiths 83), Wootton.
Weymouth: Ross, Worman, Robinson (Ngalo 78), Murray, Mensah, McQuoid (Fonkeu 70), Brooks, Camp (Leslie-Smith 83), Dallas, Harfield, McCarthy.
Venue: Meadow Lane (4,197)
*Main image @Official_NCFC the players applaud their returning supporters.
