Notts County 3-1 Weymouth (National League) 23.04.22
It’s all still to play for in the Vanarama National League as Ian Burchnall’s Notts County continued their push for a return to the Football League with a 3-1 win at home to relegation-threatened Weymouth on Saturday afternoon.
Early goals, at the start of each half, sent the visiting Terras spinning to defeat, with Kyle Wootton and Aaron Nemane both netting for the hosts inside the opening fifteen minutes, before Ruben Rodrigues’ free-kick early in the second put the result pretty much beyond doubt.
In fact, it would be Rodrigues who’d have the first chance for the hosts, his shot parried by Ross Fitzsimons in the visiting goal, Cal Roberts’s follow-up, on the volley, failing to connect; minutes later though, and the opener arrived when a low corner from Matt Palmer is met by Wootton at the near post, who flicks it home.
In-between the opening goals, Rodrigues, a constant thorn in Weymouth’s side, would see a deflected effort pushed over by Fitzsimons prior to some great link-up play leading to goal number two.
Sam Graham would send a beautiful ball crossfield to Roberts, who proceeded to send Jayden Richardson clear on the overlap, his cross being inch-perfect for the arriving Nemane who calmly slots into the bottom corner.
Chances continued to flow for the rampant hosts with Richardson (deflection), Nemane, and Wootton, all having efforts before the half hour, before the visitors pick up a little momentum before the break.
A goal-bound effort from Ben Thomson was blocked by Rawlinson with under five remaining in the half, whilst quick-fire chances from Brad Ash (off the post) and Tom Bearwish (against the bar), afforded the Terras a little hope going into the interval.
Within minutes of the restart a third was added when a handball on the edge of the box afforded Rodrigues the chance to fire home the resulting free-kick, and put the hosts firmly in control of the contest.
The Terras though, they continued to push forward, and got some reward for their efforts shortly after County’s goal, Bearwish pulling one back, whilst late chances from Rawlinson, and Ed Francis, kept Fitzsimons on his toes.
County, they stayed the course for a 3-1 victory, one which sees them four points ahead of eighth place Dagenham & Redbridge, with a game in hand, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Kings Lynn; Weymouth meanwhile are thirteen points from safety at the opposite end of the table.
Next up for County, a trip to Dover on Tuesday night, another victory paramount in the battle for promotion.
Notts County: Jaros, Chicksen, Graham, Palmer, Richardson, Rawlinson, Arter (Francis 61), Rodrigues, Nemane (O’Brien 74), Roberts, Wootton (Sam 81).
Weymouth: Fitzsimon, Ash, Bearwish, Buse, Carlyle (Blair 46), Cordner, Drewe, Greenwood, Thomson, Morgan (Mampala 78), McQuoid (Harfield 87).
Venue: Meadow Lane (6,032)
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Official_NCFC Kyle Wootton again on the scoresheet for Notts.
