Notts Lose Away for First Time Under Fullarton
Jamie Fullarton lost on the road for the first time as Notts County manager, as his side conceded two first half goals to fall to a 2-1 defeat to bottom of the table York City.
Liam Noble had the first effort of the game, firing over a central free kick from 30 yards, Jon Stead having been tripped after beating his man.
Notts County dominated the early stages, Alan Smith’s quick free kick set Noble away on a counter attack, but the midfielder’s shot was well blocked from the edge of the box.
Smith was in action again straight away, nipping in to win the ball ahead of the defender and win a free kick. Similarly to Noble’s effort, Stead could only find the stand behind Scott Flinders’ net with the set piece.
It was the away side’s turn to be caught out by a quick free kick, Russell Penn’s slide ball down the line was centred by Michael Coulson but Gary MacKenzie, on debut, got in first to intercept and clear from danger.
The pressure continued to come from the visitors and County could have taken the lead on 17 minutes. A succession of corners started with MacKenzie almost converting at the far post before Stead capitalised on some hesitant defending in the area to get the ball back across, his cross hitting the bar before falling to Izale McLeod whose improvised effort was cleared off the line.
However, Notts’ sustained spell of eight corners in four minutes, eventually ended as Jon Stead couldn’t rise high enough to direct his free header towards goal.
Despite County’s pressure it was the home side who took the lead. Coulson getting onto the end of a bouncing ball and lifting it over Roy Carroll, who had started to come from his line and couldn’t get back in time to reach the effort.
MacKenzie picked up the first caution of the match bundling into the back of Danny Galbraith on the edge of the area. Coulson this time only able to find Carroll’s hands with his effort.
The home side almost doubled their lead on the half hour mark, Carroll saving well from Coulson but it was the winger who got to the ball first, sending it towards goal but Notts recovered well to clear from within the six yard box.
Bradley Fewster should really have added a second for York soon after, the striker met Kenny McEvoy’s pull back at the near post but sent the ball just the wrong side of the upright.
Five minutes before half time and Fewster did double the home side’s advantage. The striker getting on the end of a pull back six yards out to finish past an exposed Carroll and send the Minstermen in to the break two goals ahead.
Quick link up play between Stead and Noble fashioned County’s first chance of the second half, Stead spinning on the edge of the box before firing just wide of Flinders’ right hand post.
Stead had been the visitor’s biggest threat going forward, the striker winning a header in the box, reacting quickest to the ball dropping, but his acrobatic effort was wide.
County continued to push forward and the pressure eventually told as they got a goal back. Lubo Satka looping a header over his own keeper and into the back of the net from Noble’s cross with Stead lurking.
The goal unsettled the visitors, who had looked comfortable with their lead.
Haydn Hollis got his name into the referee’s notebook with fifteen minutes remaining, colliding with McEvoy on the edge of the box, Danny Galbraith sending the free kick sailing well over Carroll’s crossbar.
Noble came close to getting an equaliser for Notts as the game approached the last 10 minutes. His shot taking a slight deflection and looping towards the top corner, but the ball fell inches wide of Flinder’s left post.
Adam Campbell replaced McLeod for the remaining five minutes of the game.
A quick passing move from the visitors results in Noble’s cross being met by debutant Jason Banton but the former Wycombe man miscued his shot and fired well wide. This was the last chance for Notts who couldn't find a late equaliser, the three points staying with York City.
Team: Carroll, Adams, Smith, Hollis, Thompson, Noble, Hewitt, MacKenzie, Banton, Stead, McLeod (Campbell 85).
Unused Subs: Loach, Murray, Sharpe, Burke, Atkinson, Audel
Att, 3,811 (980 Away)