MAGPIES HAVE NO ANSWER IN HOME LOSS TO SHOTS
NOTTS County missed the chance to move up to fourth in the National League after a toothless display in a 1-0 home defeat against Aldershot Town last night.
The Magpies got off to the worst possible start, falling behind in the fourth minute when Harrison Panayiotou converted a penalty after he was fouled by Mark Ellis.
Replays showed the decision was a harsh one on the on-loan Tranmere Rovers centre-back but Notts simply offered little attacking threat in what must be a concern for new head coach Ian Burchnall.
Notts did not manage a shot on target until the final five minutes when substitute Jimmy Knowles forced a save from Mitch Walker.
The Magpies fell behind after Calvin Miller was caught dithering in his own defensive third, allowing Panayioutou to get in on the wrong side of Ellis.
The striker fell theatrically under the challenge of Ellis and the referee deemed there had been enough contact to award a spot-kick.
Panyioutou took responsibility and drilled the penalty low and hard down the middle to give the visitors a dream start.
Notts tried to hit back immediately when Kyle Wootton knocked the ball down for Miller, who drove towards the heart of the Shots’ defence.
Space opened up for him but he could not steer his shot on target.
Aldershot had been visibly lifted by their opener and when Elisha Sam tried to dribble his way out of his own half, the visitors quickly switched possession to the dangerous Panayioutou.
EARLY PENALTY IS ENOUGH TO SEND NOTTS TO DEFEAT AT MEADOW LANE
The forward took aim from distance but it was not a clean strike as it bobbled wide of keeper Sam Slocombe’s left-hand post.
There was further danger for Notts when a tame challenge from Jordan Barnett was easily brushed aside by Joel Nouble, who stormed towards the penalty area.
He fizzed a low cross into the near post but none of his team-mates had read his intentions and Slocombe was able to gather easily but you could sense the frustration growing in Notts’ ranks.
The Magpies’ cause was not being helped by a lack of movement in midfield and attack but Jim O’brien was at least a willing runner.
He threatened with a run in behind but the ball never came and the Scotsman was quick to let his team-mates know his thoughts.
Aldershot continued to look the better of the two sides and they nearly doubled their lead when a long throw into the box bounced kindly for Panayioutou.
The striker produced an instinctive volley which crashed off the bar as Notts were given an almighty letoff with the game approaching halftime.
In response, Sam charged down the right, with Wootton running into the area in support. But the cross was behind Wootton before the visitors hacked clear.
Notts continued to have the better of the exchanges as half-time approached and Wootton saw a shot blocked by Jamie Sendles-white, the Magpies’ best chance of the first period.
Despite having no shot on target in the first half, Burchnall resisted the temptation to make changes at the break as he hoped for a big response in the second half.
But in truth the visitors looked entirely comfortable as Notts continued to have possession but it was not shifted at any great speed to unsettle the Shots’ defence.
Burchnall had seen enough after 54 minutes, making his first change. Sam was replaced by Knowles in the hope the latter’s movement and speed would lead to a breakthrough.
However, Notts were indebted to Slocombe for keeping them in the game when Nouble pounced to dispossess Jake Reeves in the area but his shot was turned around the post.
The visitors continued to have the
edge in attack and there were further warning signs for Notts when a corner was headed clear to Josh Rees, whose shot thundered into a crowd of bodies.
Burchnall made another change in the 74th minute when Ruben Rodrigues replaced Miller.
But it was Knowles who nearly drew the Magpies level when he raced onto an O’brien pass only for Walker to make an impressive save.
The forward then latched onto a header from substitute Inih Effiong only to drill his effort into the sidenetting.
But that was the closest Notts came to levelling on a disappointing night as the Shots claimed all three points.