Roberts spot on for victory, Mariners next in the play-offs
NOTTS County will face Grimsby Town in the National League playoffs after their 1-0 away win against Maidenhead United yesterday on the final day of the season.
Needing only a point to guarantee a home tie against the Mariners, Ian Burchnall’s side could have put the game to bed before the break as Callum Roberts wasted two gilt-edged chances against Alan Devonshire’s side.
The first came when he burst clean through from a glorious Ruben Rodrigues pass but shot wide, while the second saw a superb save from Dan Gyollai deny him from close range.
You wondered whether Notts would pay for those misses but they finally found the breakthrough in the 72nd minute when Roberts’ box of tricks led him to be fouled inside the area.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot and the winger took responsibility himself as he fired past Gyollai for his 16th goal of the campaign.
Maidenhead tried to summon a response but Notts defended their lead magnificently as keeper Sam Slocombe was rarely troubled.
Burchnall will have been delighted with the professional manner of the performance as he made one change to the team which beat Altrincham last weekend as Kyle Cameron came in to replace Adam Chicksen, who was left out as a precaution.
Cameron slotted straight back into the back five as Burchnall stuck to his favoured 5-3-2 formation, hoping to secure the point Notts needed to book a home quarter-final in the play-offs.
Burchnall had warned his side in the build-up to the game that Notts were facing one of the in-form teams in the division with Alan Devonshire’s side having claimed some notable wins over some of the promotion contenders this season.
Although the hosts had nothing to play for, Notts had to fight for territory in the early stages on a surface that had plenty of skip.
But it was not long before they created their first opportunity when Rodrigues spotted the run of Roberts and played a defence-splitting pass which put which the winger clean through on goal.
The hordes of travelling Notts fans expected the opening goal as the former Newcastle United winger waited for goalkeeper Dan Gyolllai to to come rushing off his line.
Roberts slipped his shot past the goalkeeper but agonisingly watched as his effort rolled the wrong side of the upright.
Notts were beginning to shift through the gears and Kyle Wootton was the next player to be given a sight of goal when he met a cross but could only direct his header over the bar while under pressure.
You sensed a goal was coming and Notts should have put themselves in front when a delightful cross from Palmer picked out Roberts who was six yards out.
Roberts did everything right but watched as Gyollai pulled off a remarkable save as he clawed the ball away to his right.
Roberts collected the rebound and fired the ball back across the sixyard box but nobody was on hand to capitalise at the back post as Maidenhead scurried the ball away to safety.
After surviving those scares, Maidenhead tried to gain some foothold of the game as they tested Notts from set-pieces but they were all comfortably dealt with.
With 10 minutes to go to half-time, Notts broke down the left-hand side through the grit of Kelly-evans but his cross just carried too much power as it sailed out for a goal-kick in what was a promising attack.
Having exerted so much control in the first half, unsurprisingly Burchnall did not make any changes at the break but was faced with an injury concern after O’brien was subjected to a robust challenge.
The midfielder was dumped to the turf clutching his back as the players called for the physio and, after treatment, the ex-bradford City player was fine to continue.
Just moments later, Notts were given a let-off after a long ball over the top presented Shawn Mccoulsky with a chance but his drive towards the near post was saved well by Slocombe.
The hosts were beginning to ask questions of Notts’ defence as Brindley then headed wide of his own post after another punt had put him under pressure.
Maidenhead were certainly not afraid to rattle into the challenges and one from Sam Barratt on Slocombe sparked a coming together, although the referee declined to book either player.
Burchnall’s side were on the back foot as Shaun Donnellan then raced through only to be denied by a fine block from Dion Kelly-evans which came at the expense of a corner, which came to nothing.
Maidenhead’s physicality was summed up when Palmer threaded a terrific pass into the path of Roberts only to be brought crashing down by a crude challenge from Alan Massey.
Roberts’ trickery was proving too much for Devonshire’s side and it proved vital in the 72nd minute when he was brought down inside the area.
The referee had no choice but to award a spot-kick from which Roberts made no mistake as he hammered it straight down the middle for his 16th goal of the season.
Maidenhead tried to summon a response but Notts were comfortable winners as they now turn their attention to the play-offs as they seek a return to the Football League at the third attempt.