MAGPIES SPOT ON IN TROPHY
PILLING A SHOOT-OUT HERO WITH TWO SAVES AS THE MAGPIES HAVE TO BATTLE
LUKE Pilling saved two penalties as Notts County reached the quarterfinals of the FA Trophy in a shoot-out after drawing 2-2 away to Havant & Waterlooville.
A tense and hectic match, in which both sides had a man sent off, saw Notts first take the lead, then fall behind, before a Jimmy Knowles spot-kick took the game to penalties – and from there the Magpies won 4-2, despite Jim O’brien hitting the post with the first of their efforts.
In the end, it was a job well done by Notts against determined south coast opponents from the National League South.
As expected, manager Neal Ardley used the tie to give game time to some of his squad players and there was a debut for left-back Jordan Barnett.
The centre-backs were Alex Lacey and Ben Turner with fit-again Richard Brindley returning at right-back.
Adam Chicksen started on the left of midfield with Calvin Miller on the opposite flank and Matty Wolfe partnering skipper O’brien in the centre. Elisha Sam and Knowles led the line.
The Magpies started strongly and took a 14th-minute lead through Wolfe.
Smart work from Knowles on the right created the chance, as he cut the ball back for Wolfe to finish smartly from six yards.
The Hawks were forced into a change after half-an-hour when
Godfrey Poku limped off but they equalised three minutes after that.
A free kick taken quickly by Billy Clifford after Wolfe was penalised for handball caught out the Notts back line and Tommy Wright latched on to it to fire past Pilling from close range.
Notts responded with Barnett driving a cut-back across the box from the left but Sam dragged a shot wide.
A similar move saw Barnett finding plenty of room before driving a pass across that was fired over the bar by Chicksen.
Deep into four minutes of firsthalf stoppage time, Chicksen had a golden opportunity when he latched on to a long ball over the top but was unable direct a lob over onrushing keeper Joe Tupper.
Two minutes into the second half, the home side were ahead.
A corner from the right was drilled to the near post and met by a header from Bedsdente Gomis beyond Pilling.
Knowles shot wide and O’brien sent a long-range shot straight at Tupper before Ardley had seen enough after 64 minutes and made a triple change, sending on regular starters Enzio Boldewijn and Ruben Rodrigues, along with debutant Tyreace Palmer.
That was to do the job for Notts, just, although it was to prove a mixed first appearance for Palmer.
He played a key part in the 72ndminute equaliser, as he tried to get
on the end of a free kick from Rodrigues and was hauled down in the box by Nico Jones.
Jones was dismissed and Knowles drilled in the penalty.
A minute later, Palmer thought he might have had a second penalty when he nicked the ball away from Tupper and went to ground – only to be booked for simulation.
Wolfe had a shot from a narrow angle saved and Knowles sent a cross from Barnett wide as Notts went in search of a winner.
With four minutes left, Palmer slid in as Tupper made a clearance, caught the keeper and earned his second yellow card and an early bath.
Tempers were short towards the end of the game and Havant had a strong spell which included a shout for a penalty themselves.
It was Notts who missed the best chance to win it in normal time, though, when O’brien led a breakaway and Rodrigues, moving the ball on to his left foot, shot wide from a good position.
O’brien began the shoot-out by clattering the post but Pilling kept the sides level by saving Craig Robson’s
first effort for Havant.
Knowles scored for Notts and Clifford for the home side, then Boldewijn made it 2-1 and Roarie Deacon scored for Havant.
A successful kick from Rodrigues made it 3-2 before Pilling saved Aryn Williams’ kick brilliantly, diving to his right.
That left Brindley withe the chance seal it for Notts and he did not miss.
THE FA Trophy quarter-final draw is at 1.30pm today and will be broadcast live on Talksport2. Notts are ball number five.
Ties will be played on the weekend that includes Saturday, February 27, so the Vanarama National League away game against Maidenhead United will have to be rearranged.
Notts are back in action tomorrow night in the league at home to Dagenham & Redbridge (7.45pm).