By shepshedpie
On Friday morning the Notts Youth team travelled to Clay Cross Town FC’s Central Midlands League ground to take on Chesterfield in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup.
I always enjoy these rare treats when youth team games are played at non-league football grounds rather than the usual academy grounds because they have ‘facilities’, which usually means I can have a cup of tea and a sit down in a stand, as opposed to just standing behind a rope at an empty windswept field!
This is the first of three group games in the league cup, the other two being away at Port Vale and at home to Wrexham in the coming weeks.
In the league table the two teams could hardly be closer with Chesterfield one place above and one point ahead of Notts.
Notts moved Nathan Cobain back to his more usual position at right-back with Tamar Clayton-Naute moving from central striker to a role wide on the right of midfield, while Remaye Campbell started a game for the first time this season as a central striker.
The game started at a brisk pace with both teams having chances to take the lead. Skipper Dominic Brownhill let loose with a fine shot from the edge of the area after 12 minutes but it cleared the crossbar.
Ten minutes later it was the turn of a Chesterfield striker to send in a powerful shot which looked destined for the top corner until Joe Searson, in the Notts goal, took off to his left to deflect the effort for a corner.
Half-chances at each end but overall the two defences were on top with the first half finishing scoreless.
Half Time: Chesterfield FC 0-0 Notts County
The second half began as the first had finished with both defences holding firm, but on 63 minutes the Spireites took the lead with a goal scored from a good through ball for their central striker to run onto and score.
On 65 minutes Notts brought on 14-year-old Jack Bearne for his youth team debut.
Notts were not behind for long. Only twelve minutes after the Chesterfield goal, Campbell pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area before firing it high into the net for the Notts equaliser.
From that point on Chesterfield were pushing to regain the lead but Notts held firm, with one shot from the home team striking the foot of the Notts post. No more goals were scored so a scoreline that reflected it had been a good game featuring two evenly matched teams.
Full Time: Chesterfield FC 1-1 Notts County
Team:
Joe Searson
Nathan Cobain
Declan Dunn
Dominic Brownhill (C)
Jordon Richards
George McCartney
Tamar Clayton-Naute
Alex Howes
Remaye Campbell
Sam Osborne
Harry Gibbons
Subs:
Curtis Hall (GK)
Edwin Towers
Louis Robinson – on for Remaye Campbell on 84 minutes
James Anstey – on for Nathan Cobain on 65 minutes
Jack Bearne – on for Harry Gibbons on 65 minutes
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