O’BRIEN HITS TREBLE TO STEER NOTTS TO AWAY WIN
RODRIGUES ADDS A FOURTH AS VISITORS TAKE CONTROL
JIM O’brien scored a hat-trick as Notts County claimed a third successive victory in the National League, romping to a 4-0 away win against Maidenhead United to strengthen their promotion hopes.
The midfielder opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he headed in from close range after seeing his inital effort saved by Rhys Lovett.
Maidenhead boss Alan Devonshire was sent off at half-time for complaining about the officiating as Ian Burchnall’s side cruised through the opening 45 minutes.
Notts were then given an advantage when Lovett picked up an injury but with no goalkeeper on the bench, midfielder James Comley went in goal.
O’brien stabbed in his second in the 65th minute following good work by Calvin Miller in the buildup before rounding off his treble from the spot after Kyle Wootton was fouled.
And it was left to Ruben Rodrigues to make it four as he raced onto a long ball in the 83rd minute before beating Comley.
Head coach Burchnall had made two changes to the side that coasted to a 4-1 win over Barnet at the weekend as Dion Kelly-evans and O’brien came back into the side.
Making way were Richard Brindley and Elisha Sam who were on the substitutes’ bench as the Magpies went in search of a third successive National League win.
Notts started on the front foot as they created a chance within the opening two minutes as Rodrigues spotted the run of Wootton, who looked set for a tap-in. But George Wells made an incredible last-ditch tackle to deny Burchnall’s side the opener.
Moments later, Rodrigues dissected the Maidenhead defence with a wonderful pass to find Wootton again but his shot flashed across goal and behind for a goal kick.
But the breakthrough the intense start warranted finally arrived when Michael Doyle, collecting the ball midway inside the Maidenhead half, produced a magnificent 40-yard pass to find O’brien.
The midfielder was denied by the goalkeeper on his first attempt but he made no mistake with the second as the ball span up on the rebound leaving him with a simple finish.
Maidenhead had been on the back foot yet they had a chance to load the box from a free-kick but Sam Slocombe collected comfortably.
Dan Sparkes then fizzed down the left-hand side which led to him firing a low cross into the six-yard box which was superbly cleared away by Mark Ellis under pressure.
Notts were clearly enjoying themselves and a glorious pass from Rodrigues picked out the run of Jake Reeves, who had joined the attack from his position in midfield.
But although the former Bradford City player collected possession on the edge of the box, he couldn’t engineer enough space to have a shot.
Maidenhead were struggling for any kind of attacking momentum but they did test Slocombe’s concentration when Danilo Orsi let fly from distance but the Notts goalkeeper was not seriously troubled.
With 10 minutes to go to half-time, Rodrigues battled away to switch play across to Miller who was left with a clear run into the box.
The on-loan Harrogate Town winger had only one thing on his mind as he surged into the box but lashed over the bar.
Notts were beginning to push for a second goal and it nearly arrived when Miller teed up Rodrigues who opened his body up to sent a shot straight into the midriff of Lovett.
The pressure was mounting as Miller then sent over a cross for the unmarked Rodrigues but his header was saved by Lovett who collided with the post in his desperation to stop the Magpies from doubling their lead.
Maidenhead boss Devonshire was clearly frustrated at the referee’s decision-making and that earned him a red card as the teams headed back to the dressing rooms.
And to compound his misery, Lovett was in no fit state to continue, with the hosts having no substitute goalkeeper on the bench.
That meant midfielder Comley had to go in goal and his first touch was to save a shot from Rodrigues before he then had to gather a 35-yard effort from O’brien.
At the other end, substitute Josh Kelly played a pass into the feet of Josh Coley who breached Notts’
back line but could only fire wide when well placed.
Maidenhead knew their best form of defence was to attack given their makeshift goalkeeper, as Wells let fly from long range but watched his effort sail well off target.
But Notts took a giant stride towards all three points when they added a second when Miller surged into the box where his cross was touched by Wootton to O’brien, who guided his finish into the bottom corner.
And the Scot rounded off his treble by scoring from the spot after Wootton had been fouled in the area.
Rodrigues then got in on the act as he raced onto a long ball to fire past Comley to complete a dream night for the Magpies, who moved up to fifth in the table.
MAIDENHEAD UTD: Lovett (Kelly 50), Massey, Wells, Parry, Coley, Wiltshire (Egan 46), Sparkes (Smith 78), Ince, Comley, Nana Ofori-twumasi, Orsi-dadamo. Other sub: Keetch.
BOOKINGS: Massey, Coley.
NOTTS CO: Slocombe, Miller (Brindley 85), Chicksen, Ellis, Rawlinson, Kelly-evans, Doyle (Sam 83), Reeves, O’brien, Rodrigues (Griffiths 83), Wootton. Other subs: Turner, Boldewijn.
BOOKINGS: Miller.