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Joe Jones
Notts County and Preston North End are two of the oldest football clubs in the country (and by extension, the world), whose history goes back over 125 years. The first fixture between the two took place in November 1888, when North End defeated the Magpies 7-0 in the first ever season of the Football League.

The 1888-89 season saw Preston remain unbeaten throughout, and would go on to become English football's first "Invincibles", a feat which remained unbroken until 2003-04 when Arsenal also went a whole top-flight season without losing.
So really, Notts being thumped so heartily wasn't quite as bad a result as it seems!
Aside from Preston going the whole season unbeaten, they were also the first EVER winners of the Football League. Oh, and they won the FA Cup that year too!
 
The two clubs have met a total of 87 times, and sadly (for us Notts fans) the Lilywhites have the upper hand by quite a significant margin. They're won 41 times, while the Magpies have won 23 games. 23 draws have taken place.
The two teams that have played the most games overall in the Football League are, in fact, Notts County and Preston North End!
Meanwhile, Preston are ranked as the fourth most-successful English football club of all time domestically.
Over the years, there have been some varied scorelines. We've talked about the 7-0 back in 1888, but we've also had 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, 4-3 and 4-2.
Recently, meetings have been tamer (from a goal-scoring perspective). Since the turn of the millennium, only seven goals have been scored in the eight games we’ve played. Notts County scored only one of those, back in March 2000 when we last beat them (1-0).
 
Notts’s recent record against Preston is, sorry to say, pretty dire. We’ve lost the last three encounters against them, and worse still, have only beaten them once in the last FOURTEEN clashes. Oh, and we haven’t even scored against them in seven games. Suffice to say, they are a bit of a bogey team for us.
The National Football Museum was originally situated in Deepdale, Preston, but was moved to Manchester in 2012.
Deepdale was used as the venue for the England U21s when they played Iceland in March 2011. Deepdale was used again at the end of the 2011-2012 season to host three U19s Elite Round matches with England, Slovenia and Switzerland all taking to the famous pitch. The three games were held at the end of May over six days.
Preston have made the play-offs in a record eight seasons, spanning all three league divisions, but have not yet been promoted via this route.
Preston will be without new signing Kyel Reid and Lee Holmes after they were ruled out with knee and chest injuries respectively.
Defender Bailey Wright has declared himself fit following his call-up to Australia's World Cup squad.
Notts are without long-term injury victim Jimmy Spencer and fellow striker Danny Haynes, while there will be debuts for virtually everyone in the starting XI.
Joe Jones
Notts County Ladies have secured a point away at Chelsea Ladies to elevate them to second in the Women's Super League Table, having previously fallen to fourth place after results in midweek, but could have easily won the game were it not for a good display between the sticks from Blues goalkeeper and Chilean international Christiane Endler.

As has often been the case, the Lady Pies were quickest off the starting blocks, Jess Clarke and Dunia Susi linking up well and causing trouble against the opposition.
The duo helped set up Katie Hoyle in the second minute of the game, but the midfielder blasted wide.
On the quarter-hour mark, Clarke controlled the ball with her chest, but her shot flew just wide, and two minutes later, she managed to force a corner with another dangerous effort.
From the ensuing corner, Rachel Corsie twisted and sent a volley goalwards, but Endler was able to parry the ball away before smothering at the second attempt.
Just a minute later, Caitlin Friend was felled in the Blue box, but the referee only awarded a free kick, which was ultimately cleared away.
Notts continued to have the better of the chances, Clarke continuing to plug away, and towards the end of the half, a mistake by Endler nearly set up Katie Holtham, but the German-born stopper was able to rectify her mistakes and keep her clean sheet unsullied.
 
After the interval, Endler came out of the box to clear the ball, and Clarke was able to dispossess her and cross into the danger zone, but Chelsea managed to clear away the danger.
Just a few minutes later, Desiree Scott was next to try her luck with a volley, but the Chelsea keeper produced a fine save, backpedaling and tipping the sphere onto the post and out for a corner.
The Blues seldom threatened Carly Telford's goal, the sole real attempts coming from a stray inswinging corner and from Yuki Ogimi's overhit free kick, but as it was, Endler's erratic yet effective display ensured that the spoils would be shared among the two sides.
The WSL is bisected by a mid-season break, which will see no action take place until the 29th June, with the exception of the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Everton on the 1st June.
Joe Jones
Notts County Ladies remain top of the FA Women's Super League table after a 0-0 draw against current champions Liverpool.

The Lady Pies were on top for most of the game in terms of possession and chances and, were it for a little more incisiveness in front of goal, could have found themselves two or three goals to the good.
Chances were at a premium in the opening stages with the game largely dominated by skirmishes in midfield, although Jess Clarke produced a long-range effort that just cleared the crossbar at the quarter-hour mark.
It was not until well beyond the half-hour point that a goalkeeper was tested, Clarke showing great technique from a tight angle and unleashed a long range strike that forced Libby Stout into a smart save.
Liverpool struggled to find a cutting edge throughout the first half, although they did hit the bar through a header from Natasha Dowie, niece of former Crystal Palace manager Iain.
 
The second half was also a cagey affair with few concrete chances, the consequence of two very evenly matched sides.
In the 65th minute, Dunia Susi had a great chance when she ran clean through after Gemma Bonner was forced into a mistake by Desiree Scott.
Susi powered into the box, but with just Stout to beat, dragged her shot just past the upright.
Clarke then marauded into the box midway through the second half, but her shot was deflected away by Bonner.
Susi then did her best once again to draw first blood when she powered her way into the box after chasing a long ball, but her shot cleared the bar.
The final whistle eventually blew with both sides sharing the spoils - Notts will perhaps feel aggrieved at not being able to take more from the game, but will be happy that they're still in pole position at the top of the WSL table.
Joe Jones
Notts County Ladies have risen to the top of Group Three in the FA WSL Continental Cup after seeing off a spirited Oxford United Women side 4-0 this evening at Abingdon United's ground.

The home outfit, currently bottom of the WSL2, matched the high-flying Lady Pies for certain spells of the game, but ultimately succumbed to goals by Caitlin Friend, Jess Clarke and Aileen Whelan.
Notts were quick off the starting blocks right from the start, marauding forward at every opportunity - Friend and Clarke both fired just wide in the first three minutes.
However, the home side could have got themselves on the scoresheet in the 13th minute when Laura Low dispossessed Dunia Susi before squaring to Lauren Allison, but the latter scuffed the ball wide of the post.
The Lady Pies took the lead in the 24th minute as the Oxford defence, caught out by a dangerous free-kick, allowed Friend to get inside the box and steer the ball past goalkeeper Hannah Cox.
United almost responded straight away when Jemma Connor-Iommi's free-kick cannoned back off the post, but Dunia Susi countered with an effort that soared over following a set piece of their own just minutes later.
 
Shortly after the restart, Notts scored a second goal, and it came courtesy of a hashed clearance - a free-kick taken by the visitors caused havoc in the box, and Sahara Osborne-Ricketts sent her clearance rebounding off Clarke and into the net.
Rachel Colsie appeared to have headed in a third for the visitors when she was first to the rebound after Cox had kept out another effort, but was denied by the offside flag.
However, the Lady Pies didn't have to wait long for the third goal, as just moments later Clarke rose high to head home from yet another dangerous Notts set piece.
The floodgates were well and truly open at this stage, and substitute Whelan, assisted by the talismanic Clarke, arrived late to power a volley into the net at the back post for goal number four.
Oxford could have scored a consolation goal in injury time, but Lauren Allison's speculative effort was not given as the referee played on, and so the final whistle blew on a 4-0 victory to the visitors, who now top their group with two wins and a draw, a point ahead of Birmingham City Ladies.
Joe Jones
It had to come to an end at some point. After Notts County Ladies’ excellent start to the season, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Everton sees the Lady Pies fall at the FA Cup semi-final stage and record their first loss of the new campaign.

The home side – kind of – began the game on the front foot, Dunia Susi weaving through a series of Everton tackles, but her tame shot was collected by Toffees goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis.
The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute against the run of play, as Nikita Parris latched onto a corner kick to head past Carly Telford.
Shocked by the early goal concession, Notts strove for an equaliser straight away, and came close to striking back through Jess Clarke and Rachel Corsie.
Things were to get worse for the Lady Pies, sadly. Just before the half-hour mark, Telford’s mistake allowed Parris to poke home for the second goal of the game, both individually and for her team.
It didn’t take long for Notts to have the ball in the back of the net, but Brown-Finnis was pardoned by the referee, who cited “unlawful pressure” for the fact that she dropped a clanger by spilling the sphere into her net.
The Toffees keeper, to her credit, did make a good save at the end of the first half to deny Amy Turner a goal.
The second half saw Notts pull a goal back through Katie Hoyle, who latched onto Katie Holtham’s flick-on just before the hour mark to send the ball into the Everton net.
Clarke, whose scoring record so this season has been outstanding, attempted a long-range effort midway through the second period, but sadly was denied by the post.
The resolute Toffees defence wasn’t to be breached again, and at the final whistle, it was the Merseyside outfit that would find themselves into the FA Cup final at the expense of the beleaguered Notts Ladies.
Joe Jones
Notts County Ladies have extended their unbeaten run to six games, although they couldn't climb to the top of Group Three in the Continental Cup after drawing 1-1 with Bristol Academy.

The Vixens, who trounced Oxford United Women 9-2 in midweek to seize top spot in the group despite the Lady Pies' 5-0 defeat of Aston Villa, were a goal down at the break, thanks to an amazing 25-yard volley by the prodigal Jess Clarke, but Nikki Watts bundled the ball in from close range ten minutes after the restart to level proceedings.
The away side were responsible for the first attack of the game after winning a corner, but the Lady Pies imposed themselves shortly thereafter, pressing and threatening the Vixens goal through Dunia Susi.
 
Bristol weathered their opposition bravely, thwarting continued ventures forward and chances from Katie Holtham and Clarke, but only until the 28th minute – and frankly, Mary Earps had absolutely no chance against Clarke’s long range volley, fashioned out of nothing.
The last five minutes of the first half saw several dramatic moments for the home side, as Rachel Corsie was forced to clear from under her bar as Natalia Sanchon was lurking, while just two minutes later, the referee waved away a penalty appeal as Laura Del Rio appeared to be bundled in the box.
 
After the restart, both sides kept on sparring, with Clarke’s cross being cleared away before Susi could make anything of it, while Del Rio weaved her way through three challenges before attempting a shot that was denied by Amy Turner.
Eventually, the Vixens managed to breach the Notts defence and register the equalising goal. In the 54th minute Del Rio, proving to be an ever-present thorn in the Lady Pies’ side, whipped a dangerous cross across the box, and Nikki Watts duly sent the ball into the net from close range.
Taken aback from the Bristol goal, the home side strove to pull themselves back in front. In the space of two minutes, Susi fashioned two chances, first beating Jasmine Matthews and sending a dangerous cross into the Vixens box, before weaving past Corinne Yorston and whipping a ball to Courtney Sweetman-Kirk. The steadfast away defence thwarted both attempts, however.
Midway through the second half, the Lady Pies caused havoc in the Bristol box, as Earps spilled Clarke’s shot after marauding into the box. Susi’s subsequent effort was then blocked, and eventually Grace McCatty scrambled the ball behind for a corner.
An injury to opposition player Jemma Rose saw the game halted for a few minutes, before Yorston and Lauren Dykes combined to set up Angharad James in front of goal. Her effort was comfortably saved, however.
The game then petered out in the final stages, save for several players accruing yellow cards, a Notts free kick that flew well over, and a half-chance from Sophie Bradley from a difficult angle.
The final whistle eventually blew on the game, as both sides shared the spoils in the 1-1 draw, and Notts remain unbeaten so far this season, even though the Vixens remain at the top of Group Three in the Continental Cup.
Joe Jones
Well folks, I am absolutely thrilled to be able to tell you, in case you've been hiding under a rock this afternoon, that NOTTS COUNTY ARE STAYING UP!!
It was a bumpy ride, and at one point, it really seemed like everything that could have gone wrong was going wrong, but things eventually worked out and the end result is that, despite being dead and buried as far back as six weeks ago, we will now spend another season in League One.
Oldham Athletic were the team that stood between us and finding out our fate, between us and the Great Escape. The final result stood at 1-1, but with the home side taking the lead midway through the second half and our relegation rivals Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers leading in their respective games, we were staring into the abyss. We were relegated.
But then, we were given a chance. A penalty. And Alan Sheehan, arguably the team's best performer this season, did what he had to do with calm and precision. He put away the penalty for the equalising goal, which saw us come out of the drop zone.
Tranmere ended up ultimately losing 2-1 to Bradford City, thus giving us a three-point safety cushion, and when the final whistle went, the scenes of jubilation from the Black And White Army - all 3361 of them - were cathartic, intense and joyous.
With everything that took place today, it almost makes the actual match action seem irrelevant, but nevertheless, it wouldn't be a match report otherwise!
Hayden Mullins recall by Birmingham City meant that Gary Liddle dropped back into defence, partnering young Haydn Hollis. On-loan midfielder Josh Vela lined up in the centre alongside Curtis Thompson.
The first shot of the game fell to the Magpies, as Jimmy Spencer had an effort following an assist from Ronan Murray. The former Huddersfield man, however, was off target.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce was a constant threat on the flanks, and in the eighth minute, set up Murray, who sadly fired wide. The two combined again in the 37th minute, and Murray's resulting half-volley did better this time, having to be deflected out for a corner.
By this point, both Crewe and Tranmere were leading in their games, and as it was, Notts would only stay up on goal difference. Skin of their teeth would have been an understatement.
Towards the end of the half, Oldham were in the ascendancy, with Bartosz Bialkowski having to be at his best to thwart a dangerous chance from Jonson Clarke-Harris. Hollis then had to produced a stunning goal-line clearance following another effort by the same man moments later.
The half-time whistle offered little solace to the away fans, because things were still too tight with the other results being taken into consideration.
Shaun Derry must have thought so too, and he must have delivered a rousing team talk, as the Magpies were invigorated come the start of the second period.
Spencer's header into Murray's path just after the restart set up a tantalising one-on-one situation between the Irishman and Paul Rachubka, but the goalkeeper came off best, his instinctive save keeping the scoreline goalless.
Moments later, a JCR cross curled over the Latics goalkeeper, but right-back Connor Brown was at hand to make a last-gasp clearance.
In the 68th minute, Notts were staring into the abyss. They had a foot in League Two. They slipped back into the relegation zone when Adam Lockwood connected with a Gary Harkins free kick, his header looping past Bart to put the home side a goal up. The Crewe and Tranmere results, meanwhile, remained the same.
It could have been even worse moments later, because James Dayton was able to latch onto a ball from Clarke-Harris, but Bart made another spectacular save to keep the hosts' goal tally down to just the one.
And then, the lifeline. JCR's cross was handled by Jonathan Grounds, a penalty was awarded, and Alan Sheehan duly stepped up. Rarely had a single penalty kick been so important in the history of Notts County Football Club, but the Irishman kept his cool and smash the ball into the top-right corner, much to the delight of the 3361 Notts supporters.
Things would get even better for the visitors, as Lockwood was sent off following a desperate tackle on Spencer and Bradford turned the scoreline around against Tranmere.
Eventually, the final whistle went, to signal the end of the game and the end of the season. And crucially, Notts County ended the 2013-14 season in 20th place, when just as far back as six weeks ago, we were all but relegated.
Well, what a season. What an utterly insane odyssey of a season. More ups and downs than a rollercoaster. But all's well that ends well, and next season, we will be in League One once again!
I would like to wish all Pride of Nottingham fans and followers a very enjoyable summer, safe in the knowledge that we've survived the unsurvivable! Thank you for reading our match reports and enjoying the site content!
One more time... COME ON YOU PIES!!!
Joe Jones
Notts County first played Oldham Athletic all the way back in 1910. To put it into perspective, Mark Twain and Florence Nightingale were still alive at the start of that year!

During the Division One fixture, played at the Oldham Athletic Ground (now known as Boundary Park), the home side ran out 2-1 winners against the Magpies.

The Latics hold the upper edge against Notts in the head-to-head, having won 36 games to our 34, while just 19 draws have taken place.
The club was formed in 1895 as Pine Villa F.C. When local rivals Oldham County F.C. folded in 1899, Pine Villa moved into their stadium, the Oldham Athletic Ground, and changed their name to Oldham Athletic.
The Latics' most successful season came in 1914-15, when they finished runners-up in the First Division by a single point. They also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, after making the semis just a year earlier.
Boundary Park is less than 9 miles from the nearby stadiums of Bury, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Rochdale.
Oldham's mascot, Chaddy the Owl, has famously been flagged for offside in a game against Peterborough United in 2000, while in 2003, in a game versus Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, Chaddy was involved in a scuffle with Bloomfield Bear after throwing his foam boots into the crowd. Chaddy defended himself, stating that Bloomfield Bear was attempting to break his beak.
 
Near the end of the 2005–06 football season, Chaddy was ejected from Belle Vue in a game versus Doncaster Rovers. Chaddy was escorted off of the premises after inciting a riot and making obscene gestures.
Notable Oldham Athletic fans include comedy duo Cannon and Ball, professor Brian Cox, ex-Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes, glamour model Michelle Marsh and Hollyoaks star Alex Carter.
Now, time for the permutations.
After 45 games, 15 wins, four draws and 26 defeats, it is the outcome of one final 90 minutes which will decide Notts County's fate in League One.
Notts will avoid relegation by winning at Boundary Park, while a draw should be enough to secure our third tier status because of our superior goal difference.
Out of a possible 27 permutations involving relegation rivals Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers, one can send the club back to League Two - Notts would need to lose while both Crewe and Tranmere would have to win their games against Preston North End and Bradford City respectively.
 
In terms of players, the Magpies are without Hayden Mullins, after he returned to injury-hit parent club Birmingham City as they try and avoid relegation from the Championship. Alan Sheehan and Gary Liddle are the most likely to move into the centre of defence for Notts.
Oldham extended their unbeaten run to nine matches with a draw against Sheffield United in midweek.
Midfielder James Wesolowski and defender Jonathan Grounds may return after missing that game with knocks.
 
Stay tuned to Pride of Nottingham for all the day's developments, as Notts try and secure the Great Escape. It's do or die now! COME ON YOU PIES!!!
Joe Jones
So, while the men's league season is coming to an end, the women's season has only just begun, and needless to say, Notts County's ladies have gone off to a flying start. Unbeaten in five, having won four games and drawn against Arsenal, today's result was a fantastic 5-0 win against Aston Villa Ladies in the FA WSL Continental Cup (essentially, the Women' League Cup - Continental is the sponsor).
The first goal came after just three minutes, as the Lady Pies broke the deadlock against their WSL2 opponents. Following some good work from Emily Roberts, the ball was threaded through to Jess Clarke, who whizzed down the right-hand flank and sent a cross into the Villa box. The ball was met by Dunia Susi, who subsequently headed home.
 
Clarke, who in the last few games has been virtually unplayable, continued to threaten immediately after the goal, as she marauded into the box and sent dangerous crosses from the wing on several occasions.
In the 20th minute came goal number two, and the scorer? None other than our 24-year-old starlet Jess Clarke. Katie Hoyle began the move, as she beat her marker and slid the ball through to Emily Roberts. The defender then burst into the area and cut back to Clarke, who found the net from close range.
Just four minutes later came the third goal, much to the joy of the home crowd, who needless to say haven't witnessed many displays of dominance at Meadow Lane this season. Following a corner that was only half cleared, Sophie Walton kept the move alive and sent a cross the way of Caitlin Friend, whose side-footed volley once again beat the beleaguered Villa goalkeeper, Caitlin Leach.
The away side then seemed to experience a small revival, as skipper Chloe Jones fired narrowly wide just before the half-hour, in went goal number four for the Lady Pies, just four minutes before the break. Once again it was Susi to get on the scoresheet and secure a brace, as she drew Leach off her line and rounded her on the left-hand side to fire into the goal, past Jade Richards on the goal-line.
More torment came the way of the Villans, as Notts turned the screw even more in the second half. Susi fired straight at Leach's legs in the 50th minute, while Clarke came off second best when up against the away goalkeeper just six minutes later.
Susi had yet more chances to secure a hat-trick midway through the second half, but her header from eight yards, following a great cross from Clarke on the right flank, flew just wide in the 63rd, while just three minutes later, the flag denied the England star after pouncing on Clarke's rebounded shot.
Eventually, the fifth goal came, with the talismanic Clarke also securing a brace against Villa. Rachel Corsie set the ball rolling after bombing down the right wing and setting up the 24-year-old.
As the final whistle blew on a very satisfying game for the home side, the Black and White Army couldn't hide their delight and being able to call such a wonderful footballing team their own. Even Aston Villa acknowledged County's might, as they wrote on Twitter: "Credit to @Official_NCLFC - Villa won't play many better teams than them this season."
 
Onwards and upwards for the Lady Pies!
Chris
The greatest of all "great escapes" is firmly in the hands of Notts County, as on Saturday the 26th 2014 they took on Swindon Town who had a slim hope of making the playoffs. Notts needed a win realistically to give them an added boost to the final game against of the season against Oldham, however a draw would have been okay. Notts however put on a good display and overcame the playoff chasing Swindon Town.

Final score 2-0, a late goal by Callum McGregor after Swindon pushed for an equalizer and got caught on the break by the Magpies.
 
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Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Oskar Papierz for allowing us use of his images, we wish him all the best his photography. Here's his Facebook page and Website.
Joe Jones
Notts County Ladies have reached the semi-finals of the FA Women’s Cup after seeing off Portsmouth FC Ladies 2-0 at Privett Park, thanks to second-half strikes from Sophie Bradley and Jess Clarke.

The home side, currently plying their trade in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, were on the back foot from the off, and within five minutes, Dunia Susi set up Clarke who powered forward towards goal and forced Portsmouth goalkeeper Sadie Blakely to make a good save.
Just two minutes later, the in-form Clarke sent a cross towards Caitlin Friend who unleashed a powerful half volley on target and forced another stop from Blakely. Then, Susi was next to test Pompey after Friend squared to the 26-year-old, but with the ball bouncing awkwardly, her subsequent effort flew over.
The home side’s first foray on goal was in the 12th minute when Notts conceded a free kick in a dangerous position, but Lucy Quinn’s effort was well cleared by Bradley, while just three minutes later, Notts goalkeeper Carly Telford accidentally cleared the ball to Pompey striker Charley Wilson, but her subsequent effort flew wide of the mark.
On the half-hour mark, the visitors were nearly gifted a goal when a Sophie Walton free kick connected with a Pompey defender and bobbled just past her own post.
The Notts dominance showed no signs of abating in the latter stages of the first half, with Katie Holtham being set up by Susi and blasting the ball just wide of the Pompey post, while in injury time, Susi managed to prod the ball into the net from a woodwork rebound, but the referee flagged her as offside.
Despite the Lady Pies showing their superiority against their smaller opponents, the first half would end (officially) goalless.
 
It was a case of as you were in the second half, as the Lady Pies continued to exert constant pressure against Portsmouth, save for a chance in the 64th minute that had to be blocked by Amy Turner.
Eventually, Notts managed to break the deadlock, having to wait until the 72nd minute to do so. Following a corner kick, the ball flew to Bradley, and her thumping header soared into the top corner past the hapless Blakely.
Much like buses, when you wait ages for one then two come at once, the second bus… I mean, the second goal, came just three minutes later, as Clarke finally got herself on the score sheet thanks to a calm finish past the onrushing Blakely. Credits go to Friend for setting up the 24-year-old with a well-calculated headed through-pass.
The second goal virtually meant game over, as the beleaguered Pompey Ladies were down and out by this point, and as the final whistle went, the Lady Pies could celebrate their passage to the FA Women’s Cup semi-finals - they will go on to face Everton Ladies, venue to be confirmed.
The tie is due to be played on the weekend of 10/11th May.
Joe Jones
Could any Notts County fan honestly believe that, just a few weeks ago, with the Magpies at the bottom of the table and needing nothing short of a miracle to stay in League One, would find themselves going into the final game with their fate in their own hands and needing just one point from the last match to guarantee survival?

No, I couldn’t either.
There’s optimism and there’s delusion, and anyone claiming that Notts would stay up when we were down and out, particularly after that 6-0 defeat away at Rotherham, was dismissed as living in cloud cuckoo land.
But as things are going, Notts now stand a real chance of surviving, because today, we secured another three points after seeing off Swindon Town 2-0 at Meadow Lane.
 
Shaun Derry lined the home side up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Mustapha Dumbuya returning to the starting XI in place of Callum, and Curtis Thompson lining up alongside Gary Liddle in midfield.
Notts began the game on the front foot, with both Jimmy Spencer and Haydn Hollis heading wide within the first few minutes.
Not even ten minutes had elapsed when the Magpies were in front, and the goal came from arguably this season’s hero, Alan Sheehan.
Following a tee-up from Jack Grealish, the left-back rifled a terrific low shot past Wes Foderingham and into the bottom corner to send the Meadow Lane faithful into raptures and, crucially, ease some much-frayed nerves.
The Robins, however, nearly struck back immediately when Nathan Thompson found Alex Pritchard, who carved out some space for himself on the edge of the box and curled a dangerous effort just wide.
In the 26th minute, Michael Smith came close for the visitors, but his close-range volley was off target, before Troy Archibald-Henville nodded the ball wide just eight minutes later.
Towards the end of the first half, Spencer set up Ronan Murray, whose first-touch effort curled just wide.
 
Following the break, Murray had another opportunity to score, but his effort was deflected by Foderingham’s leg and out for a corner.
The ensuing set piece led to controversy when Liddle was felled in the box, but no penalty was given.
The Robins then sent the Magpies fans into a panic when Massimo Luongo marauded into the box, but the Australian fired into the side netting.
Towards the end of the game, Swindon fell down to nine men when Archibald-Henville was shown a straight red card for an off the ball incident, which led to a fracas in which Nathan Thompson was given a second booking.
After the frankly shocking announcement of nine minutes of injury time, Notts soon eased the nerves of everyone in the ground (including the Robins fans who were finally put out of their misery) when Jamal Campbell-Ryce broke following a counterattack from a Swindon corner, and set up Callum McGregor who, following Foderingham's last-minute foray into the Magpies box, had to do nothing more than roll the ball into an empty net.
So there we have it. Our fate is back in our hands, but as good as today was, it’s not over yet. The final game of the season will be very tense, but who knows, we will have to wait and see!
Watch this space, fellow Pies fans!
Joe Jones
Notts County have met Swindon Town on 61 occasions, the first time being 103 years ago in the FA Cup. On that day in January 1911, the Robins beat the Magpies 2-0 at the County Ground.

Of the 61 clashes, 23 have been won by Notts, 25 by Swindon, and 13 have been drawn.

The club was founded in 1879 by Reverend William Baker Pitt. Yes, you read that right!
Whilst curate of Christ Church, the high church of Swindon, Pitt formed Swindon Association Football Club to provide recreation for young men in his parish.
Swindon won the Southern League championship in 1910-11, earning themselves a Charity Shield clash with Football League champions Manchester United. This, the highest-scoring Charity Shield game to date, was played on 25 September 1911 at Stamford Bridge with Manchester United winning 8–4! Some of the proceeds of this game were later donated to the survivors of the Titanic.
During World War II, The War Department – the government body responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces in the UK – took over the County Ground in 1940, where for a while prisoners of war were housed in huts placed on the pitch. For this, the club received compensation of £4,570 at war’s end.
 
Swindon Town were the first League club to use floodlights, having had them installed in 1951. The County Ground is also the only football stadium in the world with a Rolex watch acting as its timekeeper –the clock on the Stratton Bank stand featuring its name was erected to celebrate promotion in 1963.
Swindon have spent one season in the top flight, in 1992-93, during which Glenn Hoddle managed them. Sadly, they didn't do too well, being relegated at the end of the season after conceding 100 goals.
The most notable silverware in the Robins’ possession is undoubtedly the League Cup, won in 1969 after beating Arsenal in the final at Wembley.
 
Royle Family and Two Pints Of Lager actor Ralf Little was rumoured to be on trial at Swindon back in 2002, though the funnyman later claimed that he was just training with the squad. Pint-sized jazz singer Jamie Cullum is also a fan of the Robins.
On-loan midfielder Josh Vela is set to return to the County squad after recovering from a knock.
Notts are currently in 21st place, but are just a single point behind Crewe, Tranmere and Colchester. With just two games to go, it is do or die now for the Magpies.
Meanwhile, Swindon Town will need a win on Saturday to maintain their slim chances of reaching the play-offs.
Alex Pritchard will play the final game of his loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur, while Lee Cox is hoping to keep his starting spot after scoring the winner against Bradford City last Saturday.
Chris
Yesterday's game against Crawley Town installed further hopes that Notts County are not through with battling. The greatest of great escapes is firmly set for the last game of the season, after Notts secured an home win over struggling Crawley Town. The final result, a narrow 1-0 win which is thanks to a brilliant team effort and of course County's number Bartosz Bialkowski, who made several key saves during the game.

Here you will be able to view some cracking photos taken from yesterday game by our friends B&O Press Photo, many thanks to them!
 
Mobile Users please visit | Gallery.
 
Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Oskar Papierz for allowing us use of his images, we wish him all the best his photography. Here's his Facebook page and Website.
Joe Jones
The rollercoaster ride, the saga, the odyssey has experienced yet another twist, because Notts County, down and out more times than we care to remember this season, have secured yet another three points,and yet another opportunity to survive relegation, with a frantic, dramatic 1-0 win against Crawley Town.

A solitary header from Jimmy Spencer in the 34th minute secured the ever-so-crucial spoils for the Magpies, but the Red Devils made it difficult by coming at County time and time again, chance after chance being thwarted by the home side.
After a scrappy first three minutes of the match, Notts were first to threaten when Jack Grealish and Alan Sheehan combined in the final third, but the Irish left-back’s cross was cleared.
Just a minute later, Bartosz Bialkowski had to be alert to thwart headers by Joe Walsh and Jamie Proctor.
Despite Crawley dominating possession in the early stages, neither side was particularly strong in the final third, with Notts sending too many overhit balls into the Red Devils box.
In the 18th minute, however, Spencer had a great chance to put Notts in front, but his header, following a JCR cross, flew just wide.
Gwion Edwards replied almost immediately for the away side with a powerful long-range shot, but Bart was equal to it.
Just before the half-hour mark, Jack Grealish was fouled in the Crawley box, but with the referee deciding to play advantage, Ronan Murray and Callum McGregor were in line to register efforts on goal, which were saved and off target respectively.
Eventually, the breakthrough came just six minutes later, and luckily, it fell to the Magpies. Sheehan’s free kick on the far side of the box was met by the head of Spencer, the ball thumped downwards into the bottom left corner from close range. Cue wild celebration from the Meadow Lane faithful.
The home side could have scored again immediately after their goal, but Sheehan’s low 35-yard effort was flagged offside after Murray nearly turned the ball in.
The remainder of the half saw the Red Devils push forward in a bid to pull a goal back, but failed to register any concrete chances on goal, and so the half finished with Notts a goal to the good.
 
The second half would prove an exercise in extreme backs-to-the-wall defending and lucky escapes.
In the opening stages of the second period, Mike Jones whipped the ball across the Notts goal, but nobody could get on the end of it, before not one, not two, but three consecutive corners tested the home side’s defensive mettle.
In the 52nd minute, Notts should have been a goal down, as Bart made a mistake before rectifying it with a wonderful save. The action ended with Haydn Hollis clearing the ball off the line.
The whole Magpies back line was imperious on this day, with tackles and clearances aplenty, and despite Bart’s earlier mistake, he more than made amends for it with another stunning save in the 67th minute from Gary Dicker.
Everything but the kitchen sink continued to be thrown at Notts, but Crawley just couldn’t get that all-important goal back, and when the final whistle went, Notts had secured all three points and a renewed opportunity to maybe, just maybe, survive relegation to the bottom tier of English football.

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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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