York City 0-1 Notts County (Friendly) 30.07.22
Notts County won their final pre-season game of the summer against York City thanks to a first half strike by Irish midfielder Jim O’Brien.
The Magpies have had an impressive summer with wins against Leicester City, Basford United and Alfreton Town and draws against Nottingham Forest and Boston United with an entertaining double header thrown in at Cambridge United too, but will now focus on their match this weekend against the ‘other’ Magpies as they welcome Maidenhead United to Meadow Lane for their National League opener.
In Head Coach Luke Williams’ final preparation game against York City, a match which the Minster Men arranged at their new LNER Community Stadium to celebrate 100 years established, and their first ever match played, which was against Notts in 1922, County went with a strong selection with eight of the players that started against Forest all featuring from the off, Bajrami, Taylor and Adebayo-Rowling coming in for Chicksen, Francis and Nemane respectively.
After Ruben Rodrigues flashed an early free kick wide, Lenny John-Lewis went close for the home side on twelve minutes, flicking a header straight at Slocombe.
A minute later, Austin then had a shot low saved by Ross, before Cameron headed against the bar from a Rodrigues corner.
On 19 minutes Notts took a deserved lead, York City playing themselves into pressure, with seemingly no reason to panic, O’Brien robbing Kouogun as the last defender was played into trouble, the Magpies midfielder running through to slot hope what would be the eventual winner.
Thereafter, York pressed for a leveller but Austin went closest to anyone else scoring before the break, his effort was well saved by Ross in the City goal.
In the second half, Notts went with one change at the break as Francis came on for Baldwin, Langstaff then fired a first-time effort at Ross before worryingly hobbling off to be replaced by Cedwyn Scott, the former Gateshead striker then rattled a post on 71 minutes as Notts looked for number two.
Late on, Kairo Mitchell forcing another save from Ross who was in fine form, before Chicksen almost bundled home in stoppage time, in the end one was enough for the win, Luke Williams stating after the match “It was a good display in terms of work-rate and limiting the opposition. I think they only had one attempt on target, but we need to score more.”
On the injury to Langstaff, Williams commented “It’s too early to say but, because he played on for a little while, I’m hopeful that means it isn’t anything too serious.”
“He’s tightened up around his hip flexor, so we’ll have to assess him properly once it’s settled down.”
Notts will be hoping the striker will be fit for the match against Maidenhead, with Williams and his staff knowing that it’ll be a difficult game to come on Saturday.
Last season the (NG2) Magpies won both games 1-0 with the game at Meadow Lane decided by an Alex Lacey winner. A repeat score line will do nicely for the season opener, three points a necessity if County are to get off to the perfect start.
Notts County: Slocombe, Cameron, Baldwin (Francis 46), Brindley (Chicksen 65), Taylor (Nemane 65), Adebayo-Rowling, Bajrami, O’Brien (Vincent 65), Rodrigues (Palmer 65), Austin (Mitchell 75), Langstaff (Scott 56).
York City: Ross, Duckworth (Fallowfield 74), Kouogun (Kerr 74), Crookes, Whittle, Greaves (Burgess 63), Trialist, Hancox (Dyson 63), Kouhyar (Duku 79), John-Lewis (Boden 76), James (Hurst 63).
Venue: Community Stadium (1,504)
*Main image @Official_NCFC the Magpies celebrate their winning goal from Jim O’Brien.
