Notts County Football Club

Balint Bajner scored his first goal for the Magpies as Notts County secured all three points in a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient.

Bajner opened the scoring for Notts after 20 minutes, showing fantastic control from a Garry Thompson cross, before turning and placing the ball home from close range. 

The home side didn’t sit back as Chris Dagnall had a number chances to equalise before the break, both his efforts missing the target.

Will Hayhurst nearly capitalised on a mistake from the home defence, but he couldn’t get his effort over the keeper. 

Leyton Orient continued to press the Magpies as they looked for the equaliser, but the Notts defence held on for a well deserved win and three points at the Matchroom Stadium.

Magpies’ manager Shaun Derry made three changes to the starting line-up ahead of the fixture with Leyton Orient. Gary Jones, Garry Thompson and Mike Edwards were back in the side after all being on the bench during the defeat to Chesterfield at the weekend; Jones and Thompson came on in the second half.

Gary Jones was back in the centre of midfield after his substitute appearance, he replaced Alan Smith to form a three-man midfield alongside Liam Noble and Curtis Thompson. Garry Thompson too was back amongst the starting eleven; Bolton loanee Kaiyne Woolery was the man to drop to the bench. Also in the side was Mike Edwards at the back alongside Hayden Mullins, Haydn Hollis the man on the bench. 

The first chance fell to Notts and it was a glorious opportunity to go ahead. Liam Noble played a wonderful pass through to Garry Thompson who was in plenty of space. Thompson was in one on one with Alex Cisak, but he put his effort wide of the far post. Liam Noble too had a shot, this time from distance, which went wide. 

Down the other end, a corner to the home side resulted in a goalmouth scramble. The corner was whipped in, Bradley Pritchard got a head to it and put it into a dangerous area, the ball was bouncing around in the area and prodded goal wards before Mike Edwards cleared off the line.

Following a fast paced opening five minutes to the game; both teams settled down and tried to establish some possession. Blair Adams had space on the left, he cut inside and unleashed a shot from distance, his driven shot going wide.

Notts County had started the game excellently and were rewarded with a goal with 20 minutes gone. Garry Thompson had the ball on the right, he floated a cross in with his left foot straight for Balint Bajner in the box. The Hungarian’s first touch was impeccable as he turned and steered the ball in from close range. Celebrations were wild from the travelling Hungarian support as the striker ran over the Notts fans. #NoBajnerNoParty

Orient tried to hit back instantly. Another corner from the visitors fell to the head of Shane Lowry. His looping header looked to be going in, but his effort bounced onto the top of the crossbar, before going behind.

Another chance fell to the home side with 10 minutes left till half time. Bradley Pitchard had the ball on the left and whipped in a very good cross. Chris Dagnall rose to head the ball, but his header went over from close range. A counter attack from the home presented them with another opportunity. Chris Dagnall with the shot, but Gary Jones blocked excellently.

There was one last chance for the home side before the break, a freekick was lofted in, Notts cleared it but only as far as Lowry, who hit his effort on the volley. Mike Edwards was on the line again to deny Leyton Orient from equalising.

HT: Leyton Orient 0 – 1 Notts County

Notts started the second half very brightly. A series of corners and freekicks for the Magpies weren’t capitalised on. Will Hayhurst whipped in a cross, it was cleared by Leyton Orient, but only as far as Liam Noble, who hit a shot from the edge of the box, however it flew over the bar.

Orient substitute Shaun Batt could have levelled things for the home side. Gary Sawyer pumped the ball into the box, it was cleared to Batt on the edge of the area, but he completely missed the ball as he went to volley with no one around him. 

Hayhurst nearly got another one for the Magpies. Orient defender Mathieu Baudry headed back to his keeper, but didn’t get enough on it. Hayhurst was there to intercept, but couldn’t capitalise on the mistake. He retained possession and tried to pull the ball across goal, but it was cleared for a corner. 

David Mooney tried his luck from distance to get an equaliser. He hit a speculative effort from 25 yards out, but Roy Carroll was confident the ball was going wide as he watch it fly past his far post. 

Mooney then had a goal ruled out for offside. The ball was played through to the striker by Josh Wright. The striker’s first effort was well saved by Carroll before he prodded his second attempt home, but he was adjudged to have been offside before his initial shot.

Dean Cox had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes before his first chance of the game. Notts couldn’t clear a cross as they headed it to Cox on the left of the area. He hit it first time, but thumped it over the bar.

Notts were struggling to create anything upfront as they soaked up pressure from the home side. Kwame Thomas was brought on to contribute further forward. Cox had added danger to Orient as they searched for an equaliser. He put in an accurate freekick right onto the head of Kevin Lisbie, but his header was straight into the hands of Carroll.

Notts had a freekick with only six minutes of normal time remaining. Gary Jones whipped the set piece in but it was cleared by the home defence for a corner. A further two set pieces were put into the box as the Magpies looked to cement their lead, but they failed to take advantage.

Orient were straight back at Notts. Dean Cox again down the left causing problems as he took on Mustapha Dumbuya. He beat the right back before putting an excellent cross towards the back post for Shaun Batt. Batt couldn’t turn the ball in as his effort went the other side of the post.

It was Ryan Hedges with the last chance of the game for the home side; his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Carroll. 

The Notts defence stood strong to keep the late pressure, the home side were showing, out. A well deserved three points from the Magpies.

FT: Leyton Orient 0 – 1 Notts County