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Tom Walters
In recent weeks I’ve read articles calling for calm around Notts County, with Alan Smith among a few I’ve seen stressing on the need for level heads and a sense of realism in the early stages of the season. I share the sentiments of those who haven’t lost patience with the team so far this season.
I think what Notts fans need to remember is that it’s still November and nothing is cemented yet. The season has much of its course to run, so belief in what Ricardo Moniz is trying to instil into this squad must remain throughout the club and the fans at this stage. It’s an entirely new squad in essence, with new faces and mentalities thrown in the mix all at once. In all fairness, in my opinion we’re not a million miles from the finished article. 
The signing of Alan Sheehan on load from Bradford has, in my eyes, been one of the best bits of business this season alongside the signing of Izale McLeod. I literally punched the air in celebration when we announced the return of a player who was so significant in our great escape in May 2014. His inclusion in the back four has been a masterstroke – making us much more stubborn at the back, allowing us to build from the back and ultimately sort out the dismal away form and help build the momentum at fortress Meadow Lane. 
Goals haven’t flowed how we might have expected at the other end, but again, with time I believe this will simply happen. Adam Campbell is a promising prospect, full of energy and creative flair, and once we see the full return of Kyle Da Silva in the squad, defences in League 2 might just start quaking in their boots a bit more. With a couple of months gone I think Moniz now has an idea of his strongest 11 and where people fit into his philosophy.
Granted, the defeat against Salford wasn’t part of the script and I can’t ignore the disappointment I felt following that performance live to the nation – for any Notts supporter it was most certainly a night to forget. However, time is a great healer in my eyes and I have no reason to doubt Ricardo’s strategy or his selection so far. He’s had to learn about this squad as quickly as anyone, having built it from the ground up over the summer. Wait until the end of January and see where we are then. 
It’s only at that stage that we can start to make calls on whether this team can ultimately compete at the right end of the table. With the investment and the quality, I would certainly hope so. As for the recent form, my outlook is to scrap Salford, condemn it to history and move on. At this time, more than any other stage of the season, the team need to feel that the fans are behind them. Let’s hope they can recreate the jubilant atmosphere that followed the Portsmouth victory!
Onwards and upwards!
Joe Jones
One step forward, two steps back. 
Much like Notts County’s win over Portsmouth was followed up by the humiliating defeat at Man Utd Juniors and a loss against Northampton Town, so has the strong 4-2 win over Barnet been superseded by a 3-1 defeat at Cambridge United, managed by former Notts manager Shaun Derry. The Magpies are certainly having to eat enough humble pie this season to make Bruce Bogtrotter’s consumption of an entire chocolate cake in Matilda seem like antipasti.
The first half was good enough for Notts, as Graham Burke went close early on after being found in the clear by a terrific ball in from the left by Adam Campbell, but the ex-Aston Villa man blasted against the bar and only the flag going up for offside spared his blushes.
Luke Berry then fired wide with a half-chance from the left-hand side soon after for the U’s, while Izale McLeod spurned a decent opportunity for the Magpies midway through the first half when he blazed well over the bar after being first to a poor clearance from Sam Beasant.
Adam Campbell went on to give the visitors the lead on 24 minutes by poking home from close range following a goalmouth scramble after Beasant had produced a fine point-blank save to deny McLeod.
Notts had Roy Carroll to thank for ensuring they remained ahead at the break though, after he palmed away Luke Berry's header from a Jordan Jones corner.
Just five minutes after the restart, however, the hosts has a chance to draw level from the spot after Ben Williamson had been brought down in the box by Alan Smith, and Barry Corr made no mistake with a ferocious penalty into the roof of the net.
Taylor fired a shot into the side netting soon after while Berry saw a 20-yard effort go just over as United asserted their dominance, and in the 77th minute they were ahead in bizarre fashion when Carroll’s clearance hit Williamson and looped over the goalkeeper and into the net.
Berry then settled matters three minutes from time with a cool finish from 15 yards after good work by Williamson to leave Notts fans facing another unpleasant journey back home.
Joe Jones
Notts and Cambridge United have met just 23 times in their history, with the first meeting coming on Boxing Day 1970. The result? A resounding 4-1 win to the Magpies at Meadow Lane.
Notts hold the advantage in the head to head, with 11 wins, 7 draws and just 5 defeats against the U’s.
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United before taking the name Cambridge United in 1951. 
It first competed in the Football League in 1970 and stayed there until relegation in 2005, nine seasons in the Conference following until climbing back out of non-league.
Cambridge have had two spells in the league's second tier, and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once during the early 1990s, the club's most successful era to date. 
United's highest ever finishing place in the Football League is fifth in the Second Division during the 1991–92 season, competing in a season-ending four team playoff for the final promotion slot to the Premier League's inaugural season.
The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, approximately 1.86 miles east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium has a capacity of 8,127, made up of terracing and seated areas.
During their days in Division Two, with John Beck at the helm in the 1980's, the club earned a reputation for bizarre training methods and "dirty tricks" to make their opponents feel ill at ease. 
These included freezing cold showers for his own players, dirty changing rooms and deflated kick-about balls for the opposition and long grass in the corners of the pitch to slow the long balls into those areas, allowing the U’s forwards to reach them. 
Beck carried on his dirty tricks even after leaving to take charge of Preston North End – taking nine of the Cambridge United players with him.
He was not the only famous manager at the club, with Ron Atkinson taking the club from Fourth to Second division and Ex-England and Derby County centre-half Roy McFarland also sitting in the hot seat.
Before their entry into the League, a local animal sanctuary had an escapee and it was found grazing on the pitch at the Abbey Stadium. This lead to the moose connection with the club, and in the club shop you can buy a range of moose souvenirs to show your allegiance to the U’s. 
Famous alumni include Dion Dublin and Luke Chadwick, while famous fans include football commentator Gary Newbon and Tom Findlay of Groove Armada. And connecting the two clubs – none other than former Notts manager Shaun Derry, now a the helm of the U’s.
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Cambridge have added Middlesbrough winger Jordan Jones to their squad ahead of Saturday's League Two clash with Notts.
Jones has penned a loan deal that sees him link up with Derry's side until January 2 and he will be available for this weekend.
Derry recalled skipper Mark Roberts for his first win as U's boss at Morecambe, although Elliot Omozusi is likely to miss out with an ankle problem.
Keith Keane is definitely out with a long-term groin injury as Derry looks to put one over on his former club.
Notts County look certain to be without Stanley Aborah, with the midfielder nursing a knee injury following the midweek win against Barnet.
Aborah was on the receiving end of a tackle from the Bees' Sam Togwell which forced him to be substituted shortly before half-time, and the club are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the full extent of the damage.
Goalkeeper Roy Carroll and striker Jon Stead are both carrying knocks but should be fit.
Midfielder Julian Jenner will complete a three-match suspension while Taylor McKenzie has joined Wrexham on loan.
Joe Jones
A brace from veteran defender Mike Edwards set Notts County on their way to a convincing 4-2 win over Barnet in Tuesday's League Two clash at Meadow Lane.
The Magpies were fast out of the blocks and took the lead in the sixth minute when Adam Campbell teed up Steady Eddy for his fourth goal of the season.
Just three minutes later Ricardo Moniz's charges doubled their lead as the creative Campbell picked out Jon Stead for the ex-Bradford City striker to blast home his second goal in as many games.
Shaun Batt forced Notts goalkeeper Roy Carroll into a save at his near post but it was the hosts who struck again midway through the second half, when Alan Sheehan scored with a ferocious low shot from 25 yards out.
Aaron McLean then pulled one back for Barnet with a free-kick to restore a smidgen of hope for a comeback, before Edwards made sure of all three points when he headed in his second of the game just a minute later.
Luke Gambin struck a consolation late on with a clinical finish that beat Carroll at his near post to make the scoreline a bit more respectable for ex-Notts boss Martin Allen's current side.
Joe Jones
Notts County completely and disgracefully fluffed their lines in front of the nation as they fell to a meek, embarrassing 2-0 defeat away at Salford City in the first round of the FA Cup.

The only solace was that the overblown media love-in regarding the Class of ’92 and Richie Allen’s classy second goal put the focus solely on the achievements of Mini Man Utd as opposed to the clear and obvious failings of what the BBC effectively labelled as nondescript opposition. Were it not for the Man Utd connection of Kevin Pilkington, Alan Smith and Roy Carroll, the coverage may as well have had us in black silhouettes and question marks.

The warning signs were there in the first half as the likes of James Poole, Jordan Hulme and Lewis Hardcastle weighed in with dangerous chances, while the hosts’ overall play was slick and confident, in contrast to a Magpies side that, on the whole, failed to get out of second gear in the opening 45.

Ricardo Moniz’s charges enjoyed a few short bursts of attacking intent, most notably when Mike Edwards fired narrowly wide early on and Thierry Audel’s cross intended for Jon Stead was cleared away by Stephen O'Halloran.

Notts did well to survive the first half unscathed, but just 20 seconds into the second half – after they had kicked off, no less – they were a goal down, in the comical manner of Harry Enfield’s vintage Miles Chormondley-Warner spoof: “And they’re off… and it’s a goal.”

That is literally what happened, as a tentative foray forward by the visitors was halted, sent upfield towards Poole, who bear Audel on the right and whipped a cross into the six-yard box for Webber to slide past Roy Carroll and into the net, all within less than half a minute.

Trailing 1-0, it almost got even worse for the Magpies, Hulme firing against the crossbar on 57 minutes after seizing onto a pass from O'Halloran and slicing through a lacklustre Notts defence like butter.

Webber then went close to doubling his tally, racing onto the ball inside the box and forcing Carroll into a good save at his near post.

Notts, however, came within a whisker of getting back level when a clearance struck Adam Campbell and trickled towards goal, but agonisingly for the Black and White Army, Andy Dawson ran back to clear off the line.

Then came the humiliating sucker punch. Allen claimed the ball and headed towards the left-hand byline, drawing three Notts defenders towards him. A deft Cruyff turn was all it took to put the trio completely out of action and, after a somewhat flaky one-two, he recovered to curl the ball past Carroll and send the BBC… I mean, send the home crowd completely barmy.

Notts knew they were down and out, struggling to see out the game without conceding yet again as they made their non-league opponents seem like a top-flight side. As I said before, it was almost a relief that all the focus was on Salford, because it somewhat masked the fact that Notts were awful.

And it’s not just us saying it – Colin Slater called the team a “disgrace”, while Mark Stallard – one of Notts County’s greatest players of the last 15 years – described them as “inept”, “abject” and embarrassing”.

Enough said.
Joe Jones
Notts County came through their biggest test of the season thus far with flying colours as they held on to clinch a 2-1 win over high-flying Portsmouth at Meadow Lane for their sixth home win in seven.

The visitors created two good chances in the first 10 minutes as Adam Webster headed inches wide from Ben Davies’ corner before Adam McGurk’s through ball freed Gareth Evans, but Roy Carroll was equal to his effort.

Ricardo Moniz’s side replied with Izale McLeod and Graham Burke forcing Brian Murphy into two quickfire stops, but Pompey took the lead through Caolan Lavery after 20 minutes as he guided home Enda Stevens’s cross from a couple of yards out.

County were not behind for long, however, came a couple of minutes later with an Alan Sheehan free kick cleared only as far as Graham Burke, who volleyed home from the edge of the box to put his side level.

Portsmouth's response was swift and Lavery almost restored his side’s lead with a near-post drive that was beaten away by Carroll, who in turn then palmed Adam Webster's shot onto the post.

In the second half the Magpies gained the advantage as a long free kick from Sheehan was not dealt with and went straight past Murphy to send the home crowd wild.

Paul Cook’s side responded admirably and ensured a scary, nail-biting finale to the game, appropriate given the date, but there was a happy ending for Notts fans as they secured a first win against a top ten side this season.
Joe Jones
Notts County and Portsmouth have met a total of 26 times over the years, the first meeting coming on the 20th November 1926, which the Magpies lost 3-2 at Meadow Lane.

Notts have beaten Portsmouth 11 times and played out six draws, with the South Coast side winning on nine occasions.

Between December 1992 and December 1994 the two teams played each other six times, with Notts failing to get a win in a run that saw three draws and three defeats.

More recently, the Magpies won three consecutive games against them between September 2012 and January 2013, two in League One and one in the FA Cup.

The last meeting was on the 29th January 2013 at Fratton Park, where two goals in the last ten minutes from Jeff Hughes and Francois Zoko gave ten-man Notts - Neal Bishop was sent off late on - a 2-0 win.

Portsmouth have been champions of England twice, in 1949 and 1950. The club has also won the FA Cup on two occasions, firstly in 1939 and most recently in 2008, and also reached the final of the competition in 2010.

Portsmouth were moderately successful in the first decade of the 21st century, especially during the 2007–08 Premier League season, when they won the FA Cup, beating Cardiff City 1-0 in the final.

They subsequently qualified for the 2008–09 UEFA Cup competing against European heavyweights such as seven-times European Cup winners A.C. Milan.

During this period, Portsmouth were recognised to have a large number of international footballers, including England players Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe, as well as Peter Crouch, David James and Sol Campbell.

However, financial problems soon set in and Portsmouth were relegated to the Football League Championship in 2010. In 2012 they were again relegated, to League One, and again, in 2013, to League Two.

They began the 2013–14 season in the fourth tier of the English football league system for the first time since the late 1970s.

Portsmouth became the largest fan-owned football club in England, after the Pompey Supporters Trust (PST) successfully gained possession of Fratton Park in April 2013.

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Thierry Audel remains the only injury concern for Notts County ahead of the visit of Portsmouth, as he is still struggling with the knock that forced him off against Bristol Rovers last week.

Fellow defender Mawouna Amevor comes back into the reckoning after serving a one-match ban at Exeter City.

Striker Ronan Murray made his long-awaited return from a groin injury for the reserves this week but he is nowhere near ready for the first-team after being out for eight months.

The same can be said of Taylor McKenzie, who has also been sidelined for a long time but is now training again.

Portsmouth can welcome back Gareth Evans from suspension. The midfielder, who has scored three goals this season, has completed a three-match ban after he was sent off at Cambridge United three weeks ago.

Striker Adam McGurk is pushing to be involved for the first time in six weeks having returned from an ankle injury as an unused substitute in the goalless draw with Mansfield.

Goalkeeper Paul Jones, defender Jack Whatmough and forward Jayden Stockley, meanwhile, are still sidelined with knee and ankle injuries.
Joe Jones
Notts County managed to secure a second successive away point by holding Exeter City to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

The hosts dominated proceedings in the first 20 minutes, Tom Nichols firing wide from distance following Jack Barmby’s dispossession at the hands of David Wheeler.

In the 25th minute the Grecians took the lead in controversial circumstances when Izale McLeod was brought down in midfield by a clumsy challenge from Joel Grant, but despite the incident happening in front of referee Graham Salisbury, play was allowed to continue.

The ball was soon switched to Nichols, who curled a shot into the right corner of the net, giving Roy Carroll no chance.

Notts players were furious with the match official, but they responded well and found themselves back on terms by the break.

First Liam Noble’s close-range strike was blocked by Jordan Moore-Taylor and then Adam Campbell dinked a cross to the back post for McLeod to head an effort against the post.

The equaliser finally arrived when Jon Stead did superbly to nod the ball into the path of Noble, who controlled with his chest and volleyed past goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

It could have been worse for the Grecians before the break as McLeod turned Jordan Tillson too easily on the edge of the box and brought a good save out of the stopper.

Nicholls had the first chance of the second half as his shot from just inside the area was charged down, but after that the visitors started to look the more threatening.

First Alan Sheehan headed goalwards from a corner, forcing David Noble to clear the ball off the line, and then Olejnik had to produce another good stop to deny McLeod a chance to put the Magpies ahead.

The visitors then had appeals for a penalty turned down when a City player appeared to have handled the ball in the box, before Jon Stead was crowded out in the area just as he was about to fire at goal from the edge of the six-yard box.

Both sides stepped it up a gear in the latter stages of the game in a bid to find a winner, but neither side could find the breakthrough as Ricardo Moniz’s side made it three games unbeaten and remained 16th in the League Two table, with 19 points from 15 games.
Joe Jones
Notts County and Exeter City have met a total of 40 times over their history, the first meeting coming at St James’ Park in Division Three (South) which finished as a 3-3 draw.

The Magpies have an excellent record against the Grecians; out of those 40 games, Notts claimed a result in 33, with 16 wins and 17 draws.

Exeter was formed in 1901 as St. Sidwell's United and played in the Southern League from 1908 until 1920, when that league's top division was absorbed into The Football League as its new Division Three.

The club was the first ever team to play the Brazilian national team in 1914, a match which was commemorated in a 2014 friendly game against Fluminense.

City took 60 years to achieve their first ever promotion, finishing fourth in Division Four in the 1963–64 season.

Since then, the club have mostly oscillated between the third and fourth divisions, spending five years in the Conference between 2003 and 2008; having been promoted a further four times (in 1976–77, 1989–90, 2007–08 and 2008–09) and relegated five times (in 1965–66,1983–84, 1993–94, 2002–03 and 2011–12).

Famous fans include Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Adrian Edmondson, Mark Nicol and Noel Edmonds.

Singer Joss Stone signed up as a member of the supporters trust, being introduced to fans on the pitch as a new member during a League Cup match against Liverpool.

In 2002 pop singer Michael Jackson was made honorary director of Exeter City. He visited St James Park with celebrity friend Uri Geller, who was also a director.

The crew of the HMS Defender also adopted Exeter City as their home team and use their strip if playing games whilst on tour.

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Exeter boss Paul Tisdale has Tom McCready, Ryan Harley and Manny Oyeleke available after they missing the Grecians' last two games, last weekend's defeat at Carlisle and the 1-0 home victory over Cambridge on Tuesday.

Winger Lee Holmes had to be employed in a central role in midweek but he is now likely to revert to a more familiar role as Exeter seek to build on their first win in four games.

They will however be without skipper Matt Oakley, who is sidelined for the rest of the month with a knee injury, while Craig Woodman has a calf problem.

Thierry Audel is a doubt for the visitors after the defender limped off during the goalless draw with Bristol Rovers.

His potential replacement Mawouna Amevor received his fifth yellow card of the season at the Memorial Stadium and must serve a one-match ban.

With Blair Adams loaned to rivals Mansfield this week, Gill Swerts could fill in at left-back should Audel not pass a fitness test.

Midfielder Rob Milsom and winger Kyle De Silva continue to build up their fitness following lengthy injury layoffs while striker Ronan Murray and defender Taylor McKenzie are also closing in on returns.
Joe Jones
Notts County secured a valuable point at the Memorial Stadium as they held a dangerous Bristol Rovers at bay on the way to a goalless stalemate.

The hosts’ first chance came courtesy of Ellis Harrison, who picked up a pass from Lee Brown and fashioned a shot that was blocked by Elliot Hewitt.

On five minutes, unmarked skipper Mark McChrystal got himself in a good position from a Jake Gosling corner, only to put the ball over from ten yards.

Rovers came then closest to a goal in first-half stoppage time when Billy Bodin's right-footed shot from 12 yards following a corner cannoned back off Roy Carroll's crossbar.

Notts improved defensively as the game progressed, but rarely threatened. An Izale McLeod shot from 20 yards, deflected narrowly wide on 53 minutes, was the closest they came.

Jermaine Easter, whose red card at Mansfield Town on Saturday was rescinded on appeal, appeared as a second half substitute for Rovers and grazed the crossbar with a 73rd minute shot.

Late on, Rovers won another free-kick in a promising position after Daniel Leadbitter was hacked down by Mawouna Amevor, but again the visitors stood firm to complete a frustrating night for Rovers and remain five points away from the League Two playoffs.
Joe Jones
Notts County and Bristol Rovers have met a grand total of 85 times over their history, with the first fixture coming on the 11th January 1913, a 2-0 win for the Pirates in the FA Cup at their former home ground, the Eastville Stadium.

The Magpies have claimed 31 wins and 28 draws against Rovers, whilst falling to 26 defeats.

Meadow Lane was the scene of the last meeting between these two on the 19th March 2011, a League One fixture, as Will Hoskins scored just after the hour to give the Gas a 1-0 win.

The club was founded in 1883 as Black Arabs F.C., and were also known as Eastville Rovers and Bristol Eastville Rovers before finally changing its name to Bristol Rovers in 1899.

The club's official nickname is The Pirates, reflecting the maritime history of Bristol. The local nickname of the club is The Gas, from the gasworks next to their former home Eastville Stadium, which started as a derogatory term used by fans of their main rival Bristol City but was affectionately adopted by the team.

Rovers were admitted to the Football League in 1920 and have played there ever since, apart from spending the 2014–15 season in the Conference Premier.

They previously came close to losing their league status in 1939, when they were re-elected after finishing bottom of Division Three (South), and in 2002 when the team finished one league position away from relegation to the Football Conference.

Their highest finishing positions were in 1956 and 1959, on both occasions ending the season in 6th place in Division Two, then the second tier of English football.

The only major cup competition won by Bristol Rovers is the 1972 Watney Cup, when they beat Sheffield United in the final. The club also won the Division Three (South) Cup in 1934–35, as well as winning or sharing the Gloucestershire Cup on 32 occasions.

The team has never played in European competition; the closest Rovers came was when they missed out on reaching the international stage of the Anglo-Italian Cup in the 1992–93 season on a coin toss held over the phone with West Ham United.

In the FA Cup, Rovers have reached the quarter-final stage on three occasions. The first time was in 1950–51 when they faced Newcastle United at St James' Park in front of a crowd of 62,787, the record for the highest attendance at any Bristol Rovers match.

The second time they reached the quarter final was in 1957–58, when they lost to Fulham, and the most recent appearance at this stage of the competition was during the 2007–08 season, when they faced West Bromwich Albion.

They were the first Division Three team to win an FA Cup tie away to a Premier League side, when in 2002 they beat Derby County 3–1 at Pride Park Stadium.

They have twice reached the final of the Football League Trophy, in 1989–90 and 2006–07, but finished runners-up on both occasions. On the second occasion they did not allow a single goal against them in the competition en route to the final, but conceded the lead less than a minute after the final kicked off.

Actor Nick Frost is a Bristol Rovers fan, with his character Danny Butterman seen wearing a club shirt in the 2007 film Hot Fuzz.

The retired Conservative MP for Hayes and Harlington Terry Dicks, is also a Gas fan. He mentioned the club in parliament on 5 May 1994 when debating with Labour MP and Chelsea fan Tony Banks.

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Rovers have appealed against the red card shown to Jermaine Easter during Saturday's Sky Bet League Two win over Mansfield Town.

The striker was given a straight red for allegedly headbutting a Stags player just before half-time in the 2-1 victory and Rovers will find out if they are successful in their appeal against a three-match ban on Tuesday afternoon.

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke will also be concerning himself with the fitness of another of his forwards, Billy Bodin, who was forced to miss Saturday's match through injury. If Easter is unavailable then Ellis Harrison, who came on at half-time at Field Mill, could start.

Notts have no real injury problems any longer as players begin to return to contention.

Midfielder Rob Milsom has yet to make his debut for the club because of a knee problem but he is back in training and closing in on a return.

The same can be said of winger Kyle De Silva, who has recovered from the thigh injury he sustained during the first month of the season.
Joe Jones
Notts County ended a run of three straight defeats and made it five wins out of six at Meadow Lane with a 2-0 win over Yeovil Town, a result that sees the Magpies climb to 15th in League Two and five points away from the playoffs.
The Magpies showed their attacking threat early on as Elliott Hewitt and Izale McLeod both had speculative shots, their side dominating possession with a high defensive line as the Glovers struggled to get out of their half.
Little happened in the early stages of the game, though Matthew Dolan made a hash of a half-volley from 20 yards, while Adam Campbell played McLeod clean through on goal, but the ex-Crawley man struck the post.
It was then Campbell's turn to hit the woodwork with a swerving shot-cum-cross before Liam Noble forced Artur Krysiak to punch away a vicious 30-yard drive.
The second half continued in a similar vein as Notts poured forward and fittingly it was the impressive Stanley Aborah who broke the deadlock.
After Wes Fogden had brought down the midfielder just outside the area, he stepped up to take the free kick and, courtesy of a deflection off the wall, it wrongfooted Krysiak and bundled into the back of the net.
County’s lead was doubled not long after as a clearance from Mike Edwards was cleverly flicked on by Alan Smith, and McLeod rushed in to beat Krysiak with a ferocious drive.
Campbell almost made it 3-0 midway through the second half as he went in one-on-one himself, but Krysiak did well to close him down. At the other end, Dolan had a shot blocked and Connor Roberts tested Carroll for the first time in the game.
Ultimately, Yeovil proved no match for Ricardo Moniz’s side, who made it an enjoyable afternoon for the home faithful.
Joe Jones
Back in April, the Glovers and the Magpies played out a 1-1 draw at Huish Park, with Curtis Thompson's 79th-minute strike cancelling out Haydn Hollis's 10th-minute own goal - the result relegated Yeovil that afternoon.
Yeovil Football Club was founded in 1890, and shared their ground with the local rugby club for many years.
Five years later they were renamed Yeovil Casuals and started playing home games at the Pen Mill Athletic Ground.
In 1907 the name Yeovil Town was adopted, which on amalgamation with Petters United became Yeovil and Petters United. The name reverted to Yeovil Town prior to the 1946–47 season.
The Somerset outfit have spent most of their existence in the lower leagues, though they briefly made a name for themselves in the 1948-49 season when they beat Sunderland 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round.
In the 1980s, Yeovil were founder members of the Football Conference, where they remained for the next two decades, save for a few relegations to the Isthmian League which usually resulted in an instant return to the above tier.
Yeovil Town earned promotion to the Football League in the 2002-03 season, by winning the Football Conference by a record 17 points margin, accumulating 95 points and scoring 100 goals, remaining unbeaten at Huish Park.
In their second ever season in the Football League, the Glovers went one better by achieving promotion to the third tier as champions of League Two, and in the following years even reached the League One playoffs, beating Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals in 2006-07 before losing to Blackpool in the final at Wembley.
Six years later, however, Yeovil achieved what had been deemed unthinkable a decade earlier - they reached the second tier of English football after beating Brentford in the 2013 League One play-off final.
Their stay in the Championship was brief, however, and they went on to suffer back-to-back relegations, leaving them in the bottom tier of the Football League.
Yeovil is a pretty small town, home to just 40,000 people - two Meadow Lanes could comfortably take in the entire population!
In the 21st century, Yeovil became the first town in Britain to institute a system of biometric fingerprint scanning in nightclubs, and the first English council to ban the children's craze Heelys (those trainers with wheels that popped out from the heels).
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Jack Barmby and Roy Carroll return to the Notts County squad for the visit of Yeovil.
On-loan midfielder Barmby is fit again after missing the defeat to Plymouth last weekend, while goalkeeper Carroll is back from international duty with Northern Ireland.
Kyle De Silva has resumed training and was considered fit enough to play 10 minutes against Argyle, so he may be considered on Saturday.
Rob Milsom is edging closer to a return from a serious knee injury while Taylor McKenzie and Ronan Murray need minutes under their belts before they can be considered for first-team places.
Yeovil boss Paul Sturrock will be able to call on defender Connor Roberts after his loan spell from Swansea was extended by a further month this week.
However, midfielder Jake Howells, who like Roberts played in last weekend's 2-2 home draw with Dagenham & Redbridge, has returned to Luton following the end of his loan stint.
Sturrock must also do without injured sextet Kevin Dawson, Simon Gillett, Ben Tozer, Jack Compton, Omar Sowunmi and Jamie Burrows once again.
Joe Jones
Notts County striker Jon Stead has expressed his disappointment in being asked to drop deeper by manager Ricardo Moniz, but insists that he is willing to do all he can to help his team climb up the table.
Speaking at the weekly Magpies press conference, the ex-Sunderland forward said: "The system we're playing, the only way I can get into the team is to play that deeper role.
"And that's what the manager wants because he wants that three in midfield which he sees as being a bit stronger.
"It's a bit of a sacrifice for me, for where I want to play, but if it's doing a job and I can get that defensive side of it right, which is the bit that I struggle with, then I can play.
"I scored two in two and then didn't play the next game, so that's obviously disappointing but I've been doing all I can.
"I'll keep working hard on the training ground and every chance I get, show him what I can do. I'd play left-back or I'd play in goal if it meant I was starting a football match. I just want to be on the field.
"It's a little bit frustrating but it's where I am at the minute. That's where my opportunity is to get in the team, so I've got to go for it.
"I don't believe that's where the club will get the best out of me but I want to play football and I'm not going to go banging on his (Moniz's) door saying, 'I'm not playing there, I want to play up top'. That's not in my make up one bit.
"I'll do my very best in the position wherever I'm asked to play. I think I'm improving in that role anyway, so it might help me to be more of a complete player with that other side of my game.
"I just keep going. I'm not going to throw my toys out the pram, I'm going to get on with it. But yes, it's been difficult. It's a different side to my game.”
Joe Jones
Notts had a rare Sunday matchday as they welcomed Plymouth Argyle to Meadow Lane, eager to extend their great home run.
As always Pride of Nottingham interviewed a number of Notts fans ahead of kickoff to garner their thoughts on the game ahead.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfKW4S1Wao0

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Pride of Nottingham

Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

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