No denying Magpies deserved Cup replay
Derby match impacts on L&C fixtures
NOTTS County overturned a halftime deficit to take this FA Cup tie to a replay at Meadow Lane – but this was not a case of the Magpies stealing a result.
Far from it. Dale may have shaded the first half but the visitors looked superior for long stretches of play after the break, enjoying a 15/20-minute passage after netting the equaliser where there looked only one winner.
There were two changes to the side Robbie Stockdale named against Barrow the weekend previous. Jay Lynch replaced Joel Coleman in goal, while Stephen Dooley came in for Alex Newby.
Notts County’s appetite for knocking the ball casually around among the back four was reminiscent for supporters of life under Brian Barry-murphy – and equally nervejangling, goalkeeper Anthony Patterson treading a fine line between cool in possession and downright foolhardiness in the opening minutes.
His jitters and one or two unsure touches among the backline offered the home fans hope – but the visitors stuck to their tactic and gradually settled into their gameplan.
Still, Dale were the better side in the first half, quick to press and were a tad unfortunate not to capitalise in those opening exchanges.
Abraham Odoh was narrowly wide with a welldriven side-footed effort while Corey O’keeffe met Aaron Morley’s deep corner with a volleyed attempt into the side netting.
The Magpies provided a real scare for Dale in the 23rd minute when Jim O’brien got in behind the home defence on the left of the area and squared for Ruben Rodrigues, 10 yards from goal in a central position.
Fortunately for Dale, Rodrigues’ control was poor and the ball was temporarily scrambled clear, County working it back towards the edge of the area from where Joel Taylor was a whisker away with a fierce strike.
A mix up in the Magpies defence saw Dooley force his way between Patterson and Kyle Cameron, the ball running loose for O’keeffe to strike but he fired straight at the goalkeeper with the goal frame at his mercy.
At the other end, Taylor’s fizzed-in cross found Kyle Wootton at the back post but he got his header all wrong, glancing wide when it appeared easier to hit the target.
Dale had shaded the first half and registered a goal to signify that in the 45th minute.
Morley’s corner was cleared from a packed sixyard area but dropped invitingly for O’keeffe, 12 yards from goal. He coolly brought it under control before stroking a measured finish beyond Patterson into the top corner of the net.
A goal to the good before the break, home optimism was further fuelled early in the second period when Liam Kelly teed up Odoh inside the area but he dragged a shot across the face of goal and wide.
Jeriel Dorsett’s sloppy pass out from the back was seized upon by Callum Roberts, whose shot was too central to really trouble Jay Lynch.
But in the opening minutes of the half, Dale continued to look the side more likely – they were close to a second when Odoh got in behind the Magpies defence and squared for Jake Beesley – the striker took a touch rather than striking at goal first time and in doing so the opportunity was lost, his eventual effort on target but saved by Patterson.
And from that point, up until the final ten minutes or so, Notts County bossed proceedings. Their improvement partly coincided with the intorduction of Aaron Nemane from the bench.
The impressive Taylor raced deep into Dale territory and fed substitute Nemane, whose effort flew inches wide thanks to a last-ditch intervention from Jimmy Keohane.
However, from the resulting corner, the visitors were level. Matt Palmer’s inswinging delivery was met by Wootton, the striker getting up above Lynch and the Dale defence to nod home the equaliser.
For the next 20 minutes, there only looked one winner with Nemane a real thorn in Dale’s side and Taylor on the opposite flank still causing problems. Dale were pegged back inside their own half for long stretches as the Magpies denied them any kind of possession.
Palmer and Rodrigues both took up promising positions but wasted their chances without troubling Lynch.
Frustration growing among the home fans, Dale eventually rallied and applied a few minutes of pressure as the game reached its climax.
Conor Grant, on for Dooley, appeared to be upended in the penalty area in the 89th minute but referee Ross Joyce was not interested.
Skipper Eoghan O’connell sent a wellstruck free-kick down the throat of Patterson in time added on – but in truth Dale hardly deserved to win it by that stage, the visitors had done more than enough to earn a replay.
A FULL programme of games for the league turned out to be damp squib as large numbers of games were postponed due to pitches being waterlogged, hit by molehills, Covid infections and the crazy time for soccer at this level being hit by the Manchester derby Saturday lunchtime kick off.
Just two games played in the Premier division and De La Salle Reds hit the top of the division with an emphatic 6-1 win at Milton taking them ahead on goal difference from non playing Stretford Paddock with a vital game in hand.
There was plenty of sparkle for North Walkden who also hit six at Mellor who had two consolation goals in a 6-2 cruise.
Just one game played in division one but it was a real firecracker at Irlam Tigers as they took on leaders Chadderton Cott.
It was even-steven for most of the game with both sides giving their best, creating chances but failing to convert them.
Then after 85 minutes there was a big bang as Cott took the lead through Callum Barrow.
The Tigers showed their fighting spirit as they immediately hit back to level with a spot-kick from Tyler Lee.
There was then a flurry of three late cards from referee James Keeley, who had a superb game as some of the players failed to control their emotions going into the dramatic finale. The 1-1 deadlock sees Cott move three points ahead of Signol Athletic on level games played and the Tigers are still in serious contention with a game in hand on the top two.
The two games played in division two saw Eccles United move level on points with Hattersley after an efficient 5-1 win at Bedians.
Wythenshawe Wanderers also went nap as a 5-2 win over Stretford Paddock reserves to stay handily placed in third spot three points off the top two.
In division three AFC Stockport moved into the pole position with a 5-2 win over Salford Albion.
It takes them three points clear of Radclyffe AFC who have a game in hand and a slightly superior goal difference.
The other game in the division was a mid-table affair and provided plenty of entertainment as Elton Lib Hargreaves won by the odd goal in seven at Hooley Bridge Celtic.
There was more action in division A with three games completed with the top two teams in action.
North Walkden reserves stay three points clear with a fizzing 4-1 win over Moston Brook reserves.
Salford Storm stay three points behind the leaders with an entertaining 4-2 victory at Milton reserves and they have a game in hand to their credit.
Milnrow Firgrovia kept up the four-goal theme as they won 4-3 at Stretford Paddock Development.