RECORD CROWD HANDED A TREAT
NOTTS COUNTY turned on the style to ruin former manager Neal Ardley’s return on a record-breaking, emotional and sometimes fractious afternoon at Meadow Lane.
An astonishing attendance of 12,843 – the highest ever National League crowd – was a sign of the Magpies’ potential and a tribute to a slick marketing campaign.
But, if the outcome was still in doubt until substitute Kairo Mitchell netted seven minutes from time, the statement from Ian Burchnall’s side was loud and clear.
They kicked off seventh in the table – mirroring their position when Ardley controversially lost his job – but there are now clear signs Burchnall’s passing and pleasing style of football is clicking.
Solihull, who had only conceded once in eight previous games, rode their luck to go into half time on level terms as the superb Ruben Rodrigues and Frank Vincent both struck the woodwork.
Ardley rightly pointed to chances his side created from high balls after Kyle Wootton’s opener but the former Notts chief, who got a good reception from home fans, didn’t dispute the result.
“On the balance of play, the better side won. We can play better and we had chances at 1-0 that could have changed the game,” he said.
“It was a proper game of football and the way you react to defeat is important – we will bounce back.”
The mutual respect between the two most recent men in the Notts hot seat is obvious but this was an afternoon in which Burchnall’s way had the big crowd purring.
“To get such an attendance at a National League match is magnificent – and we put on a show for them,” he said.
“I think we controlled the game extremely well and were well worth the three points.”
Among the appreciative fans in the ground were Rodrigues’ parents and, appropriately, he provided moments of sublime skill and vision.
The home side looked comfortable in their skins throughout and it was not before time when outstanding play from Joel Taylor set up Wootton for a calm, volleyed finish after 55 minutes.
Joe Sbarra was excellent for Moors, but off target when chances belatedly fell their way. Goalkeeper Anthony Patterson displayed good handling but wasn’t directly tested.
More foraging inside the box by Rodrigues on 83 minutes saw the ball break kindly for Mitchell, who netted a low angled shot just two minutes after coming on.
Six yellow cards were split as the game occasionally boiled over, but Notts look ahead to Tuesday’s FA Cup replay against Rochdale with confidence.
STAR MAN: Ruben Rodrigues (Notts County) ATT: 12,843 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Matthew Dicicco