Magpies See Off Gills
Gillingham 1-2 Notts County (EFL League Two) 01.02.2025
A couple of quick-fire goals, midway through the first half, afforded Stuart Maynard’s Notts County side all three points in the race for promotion in EFL League Two on Saturday night, and in turn, stretched their unbeaten run to five matches.
Away to a seventeenth place Gillingham side who had not won since mid-December, County were perhaps expected to run away with things, but in the end, were made to battle – but, a win is a win.
In fact, the visitors could have been a goal up shortly before they took the lead, Gambian international, Alassana Jatta, seeing his effort clawed away by home ‘keeper, Glenn Morris, just after the quarter hour mark.
From the corner however, the visitors took the lead, Nick Tsaroulla getting the final touch on what became a goalmouth scramble and tapped home from close range; then, a matter of minutes later, and the promotion hopefuls were two to the good.
Hometown favourite, David McGoldrick, picked the ball up and raced through on goal, the advancing Morris standing little chance as, with the striker hitting the edge of the eighteen-yard box, he proceeded to gently lift the ball over the ‘keeper, and into the back of the net.
There could easily have been more for the high-flying visitors as well, if Jodi Jones’ 25-yard effort, from a free-kick, had gone the other side of Morris’ post, instead of into the side-netting, but Maynard’s charges settled for two going into the break.
The only real chance for the visitors came just after the hour mark, when Jatta saw his header go wide of goal following a Kellan Gordon cross, the latter on for Tsaroulla minutes earlier, with the hosts slowly finding their way back into the contest.
Alex Bass spilled a shot with ten minutes to go, Matty Platt on-hand to clear the danger, however, the resulting corner made for a nervy close with Joe Gbode headed home headed past Bass and into the corner.
Fortunately for the visitors, it was all that could be mustered and, despite the nervy, five minutes of added time, they held out for the win.
It was a valued three points for the visitors, they pushing themselves into third place in what is becoming a tight, promotion battle, eight points separating second place Doncaster Rovers, down to eighth place Salford City, just outside the last play-off place.
As Salford held the leaders Walsall to a 2-2 draw, two other promotion hopefuls, alongside County, both won 2-1 (Doncaster and Port Vale), whilst AFC Wimbledon won 1-0 at home to another hopeful, Bradford City, James Tilley with a first half header – the Dons also have a game or two in hand.
Next up for County, the visit of second bottom Morecambe, to Meadow Lane, this coming Saturday, 8 February.
Notts County: Alex Bass, Rod McDonald, Matthew Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Jodi Jones (Will Jarvis, 74), George Abbott, Matt Palmer, Nick Tsaroulla (Kellan Gordon, 61), Charlie Whitaker (Curtis Edwards, 73), David McGoldrick, Alassana Jatta.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Official_NCFC celebrations during another win for Notts.
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