Thursday Night Pain

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 22/08/2024

It's Thursday so it's football time: Mladá Boleslav v Paksi, or Pyunik v Celje if you prefer. Away from the glitter of the UEFA Conference League there's a game going on in Nottingham.

One black-and-white team plays another. It's almost a technicality in the case of Notts whose shirt is dominated by black, while Town wear yellow and red this evening. At least you can see the numbers. Except for this I like Town's current home shirt, which is reminiscent of the glories of 1971/2. I guess what really matters is that players know who's who, and there were signs of that in Saturday's tight win over Cheltenham. As far as some were concerned, the late winner after being under the cosh for the last half hour was an indication of a promotion push but it seems a bit too early to be thinking that.

Town's team tonight was: Wright - Cass, Rodgers, McJannet, Khouri - Barrington, Davies, Green, McEachren, Vernam - Wilson. The crowd tonight was 10,046 with an impressive 1,400 Town fans among them. The game stated. A good interception by Barrington stopped an early Notts attack. Crowley then did really well to find space and force a good low save from Wright. Cass headed clear for a corner. On 5 minutes Crowley found space and squeezed a cross between two defenders. Jetta was on hand to slot the ball home from close range. Notts 1, Town 0. Notts attacked again two minutes later. McJannet did well to cut out a cross from the left. Town hadn't had a look in so far but on 9 minutes managed to break forward. Wilson fought to put Davies through. Davies was tackled but the ball fell to Vernam in the box. With just Bass to beat, Vernam's attempt was poor. To compound matters, Davies was injured and had to be replaced by Ainley on 12 minutes. A poor Wright clearance led to a cross and a corner. On 15 minutes Jones picked up the ball on the left and crossed to Crowley in space. Crowley chested the ball down and slammed his shot home from the left. Notts 2, Town 0. Town argued that Crowley handled the ball when controlling it but the referee saw it otherwise. Notts looked like scoring every time they went forward. Rodgers bravely cut out Jaffa, injuring himself in the process. Town had a chance to attack on 21 minutes but Wilson passed to Barrington who was running in the wrong direction Wilson used his strength again to start a move but Notts's defence was superior. On 29 minutes Barrington turned Bedeau but was pulled down. Determined work by Green won a corner for Town. Vernam's delivery was good but Notts cleared. Wright saved the day after a weak McJannet clearance led to Jetta being put through. Notts continued to attack. Crowley sent in a curler from the right on 32 minutes. Macari was on hand to push the ball home but Cass saw the danger and did well to get to the ball first. 36 minutes had gone when Jones cut in to deliver a curler just wide of the post. Town were playing as if they had their feet in cement as Notts found space every time they attacked. Notts were picking up balls in midfield and creating chances but Town did have a penalty shout on 42 minutes when Wilson crossed from the left to Ainley who turned and fell over under contact Moments later Vernam crossed from the left but the cross evaded everyone. 6 minutes were added after the earlier injuries. A cross came from the Notts defence to Jones on the right. Jones ran forward and cut inside, floating a right-footed cross over Wright who was off his line and into the net. Notts 3, Town 0. 48 minutes had passed when Town won a free kick on the left. Vernam crossed, Cass headed into the crowded box. Rodgers saw his opportunity and turned to slam the ball low into the net. Notts County 3, Town 1 was the half time score. The late goal gave a ray of hope but for the most part the Town performance had been average against a marauding Notts team.

The first moment of excitement in the second half came in the 46th minute when Wilson won a challenge which sent Vernam away but after running clear Vernam couldn't keep his shot down. Town looked more determined, and were winning challenges at this stage. Vernam was sent away down the left. Green received the ball and curled his shot wide, having been distracted by a fellow Town player close by. Notts went close on 51 minutes when Jones started a move, and Crowley's shot was deflected by Rodgers for a corner. Jones was fouled outside the box on 52 minutes, and delivered an immaculate cross to Bedeau whose shot rebounded off the bar. Jones was causing havoc for Notts as the home side took charge. A poor clearance again from Wright saw Jones find Edwards whose shot went close. Svanthorsson replaced Barrington on 56 minutes. Within seconds Notts went on the attack again after another weak clearance. Crowley burst through the middle with support on both sides, but shook off McEachren and shot between three defenders, striking McJannet and causing the ball to spin over Wright. Notts 4, Town 1. Crowley then had another chance on 59 minutes but curled his shot wide. On 62 minutes Rose and Hume replaced Wilson and McEachren. Town were showing more energy this half and won a free kick after Jatta fouled Cass close to the Notts penalty area. Vernam's cross was good, and resulted in a corner. Rodgers had a shot on target but Bass gathered the ball comfortably. Green was booked for a foul on Grant. Another surging run from Crowley on 70 minutes led to a shot which went wide, with Green struggling. On 73 minutes Jones earned a corner and followed up with a shot which was well wide. Notts weren't showing signs of just hanging on. Instead, they looked to keep possession, and work forward to build on their lead. Town weren't taking advantage of the possession they had. Town clumsily developed a move on 78 minutes but Green found himself offside as Town worked the ball into the box. A Hume cross resulted in a Town corner on 80 minutes but this led to nothing. Two minutes later Hume won another corner but Vernam sent his cross directly to Bass. Notts went close again on 85 minutes after more good work by Jones. As the game reached its inexorable conclusion, Green was fouled in the corner. This led to Vernam providing Bass with more catching practice. 4 minutes were added to the half, and were noteworthy for Vernam embarrassingly ballooning a shot skywards, and then in the last seconds Wright pushing away a dangerous cross from Jones to prevent Notts scoring a fifth. This summed up the difference between the performance and quality of the two teams. So it ended: Notts County 4, Grimsby Town 1.

Neutrals and Notts County supporters might see this as entertainment but from a Town perspective this was painful. Although we improved a little in the second half, the quality wasn't there and Town's playing pattern wasn't obvious. There were some controversial decisions and the loss of Davies was a big blow but ultimately Notts steamrollered us from the start and we found ourselves ill-equipped to cope with their attacking threat. So however aggrieved we may feel, Mr Artell may note that there is work to be done on our own game individually and collectively and in preparing to deal with opposition strengths.

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