Bromley 2-4 Notts County (EFL League Two) 14.09.24
Notts travelled to recently promoted Bromley on Saturday, with the knowledge that a win would take the Magpies to the summit of the EFL League Two table at this early stage, after results in the week went in their favour.
However, County probably could not have asked for a worse start to proceedings, as they found themselves 1-0 down after just 4 minutes when Michael Cheek steered home a goal bound effort beyond the despairing Alex Bass. Things would go from bad to worse just a matter of seconds after the restart when Notts ‘keeper Bass launched a hopeful ball forward that he got all wrong, presenting Ben Thompson with a chance to race through the County midfield, which he did, and subsequently found the bottom corner to double to host’s lead.
Stuart Maynard’s men would eventually get going though, as just before the quarter of an hour mark, Jodi Jones was felled in the area, giving referee Charles Breakspear no choice but to point to the spot. Jones won the penalty, and Jones would take the penalty, which he dispatched into the bottom left corner despite half a hand from Bromley ‘keeper Grant Smith.
Notts would continue to probe for the remainder of the first half, but to no avail meaning they would go into the break 2 goals to 1 down. Maynard wasted no time in making a tactical switch at the interval, by bringing off centre-half Robbie Cundy, for County’s main striker, Alassana Jatta. This would prove to be an inspired substitution, as Notts reverted to a more familiar formation, and barely two minutes into the second half, Jatta would be the provider for Dan Crowley following a Jodi Jones cross. The Gambian frontman nodded down the cross into the path of Crowley, who fired a deflected shot into the bottom corner to tie the game up.
It would not be long either until Notts would complete the comeback, as scorer turned provider in a fluid counter-attack, which saw Crowley slip in Jatta, who finished cleverly beyond Smith to give his side the lead.
The home side then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure, however the County back line would stand firm, limiting the host’s chances. The closest they came being a snap shot from captain Byron Webster, which was tipped over the bar superbly by Alex Bass.
The rewards of this resilience would eventually shine through as Notts broke away on another counter-attack, where Crowley would again be the provider, this time for Jodi Jones, who cut in on his left foot and let fly from just outside the area. The ball would take a wicked deflection and trickle over the goal line, via the post, to wrap up all three points for the away side.
With Notts sitting at the summit of the League Two table, they are the early front runners and ones to beat, and their true quality and determination will be tested next week when 2nd place Gillingham are the visitors to Meadow Lane in an early top of the table clash.
*Article provided by Will Sey (Notts County Correspondent).
*Main image @Official_NCFC Magpies Manager Stuart Maynard.
