As known from:
- About betting.co.uk
- Our Team
- How We Rate
- Responsible Gambling
- Contact Us
- Writers Wanted
- Content Disclaimer
- Affiliate Disclosure
- Ginger Joe Author Profile
- Matthew O'Regan Author Profile
Luke Williams' promotion-chasing Notts County side dropped points for the third game in four outings, as failed to find a breakthrough at home to Yeovil Town in front of a record National League attendance.
The home of Notts County for well over a century, Meadow Lane has been privy to its fair share of memorable moments in the past. While the history book will likely have this goalless draw down as the National League's record attendance for years to come, the match itself is won't be remembered fondly by the Magpies faithful.
A battering in all intents and purposes, the only thing missing from a comprehensive County display was a goal. Peppering the Yeovil goal throughout the 90-plus minutes, an expectant crowd inside Meadow Lane was ultimately sent home disappointed.
An inspired defensive display from the Somerset outfit, spearheaded by goalkeeper Grant Smith, eventually saw them across the line, with what could prove to be a vital point in their fight against relegation.
The irony shouldn't be lost on the Notts County faithful, who set the National League attendance record last season, before going on to fumble a chance of promotion in the playoffs and have now seen their side slip off the top spot on the same weekend 16,511 supporters packed themselves into Meadow Lane.
Destined to be within the mix for promotion come the end of the campaign, should Notts fall short of the sole automatic spot, Williams will be hoping it wasn't a goalless draw at home to Yeovil on a chilly November's afternoon that cost his side.
After 45 minutes, the only surprise was Notts hadn't found a breakthrough. Relentless pressure throughout the first half had seen the home side peg Yeovil back towards their own goal, as the division's second-most potent attack continued to move the ball from left to right.
Free scorers so far this season, the Notts attack was unable to get past a resilient Yeovil defence. It wouldn't be for lack of effort, as a busy Smith in the visitors' goal was called into action on a number of occasions.
The barrage began from the off, with an unusually wasteful Macaulay Langstaff could only find Smith's feet with a drilled effort inside the opening three minutes.
Setting the tone for things to come, an outstretched Smith denied Adam Chicksen from opening the scoring with a rasping half-volley, before pushing Rúben Rodrigues' long-range effort around the post just before the break.
Despite their frustrations in front of goal, Notts' approach remained the same. Patient in their build-up, the hosts operated with the confidence of a side well in the mix for promotion.
The Yeovil threat was relatively one-dimensional in comparison. On the rare occasion the Glovers ventured beyond the halfway line with the ball, loanee Andrew Oluwabori provided their only outlet.
On loan from Peterborough United, the winger's pace threatened to catch Notts' backline out, but a lack of support from his defence-first teammates saw the attacks promptly fizzle out.
Just about holding onto half-time, the visitors went into the break having passed their first test. Still on level terms, Mark Cooper's side stuck to their gameplan after the break, continuing to frustrate an increasingly restless County attack.
In fact, it was the visitors themselves who enjoyed the first chance of the second half. Unsurprisingly it was Oluwabori, now operating in a slightly freer at the tip of the Glovers' attack, who created the opportunity for frontman Alex Fisher. Scorer of a hattrick for Yeovil at Meadow Lane during the club's EFL days, the striker's improvised backheel could only find the palms of goalkeeper Sam Slocombe.
It would prove nothing more than a one-off for Yeovil, who reverted to type by allowing Notts the time and space to build an attack. Superior to their opponents in every department except the scoreline, manager Williams turned to his bench in search of winning goal.
While the introductions of attacking duo Kairo Mitchell and Quevin Castro did - somehow - enhance the home side's domination, a desperate Notts attack began exploring different avenues in the hope of a winner.
Captain Kyle Cameron was unlucky to see a cutback from a corner cleared off the line, whereas defensive partner Aden Baldwin brushed the outside of Yeovil's left-hand post with a driven 25-yard strike.
Yet, as is always the case, one more opportunity presented itself to the Magpies, but much like what had gone before it, wastefulness in front of goal cost the home side. Glancing a header over the crossbar from six yards out, Chicksen's head-in-hands reaction was matched by the 16,000 Notts supporters inside Meadow Lane.
In the end, the biggest cheer of the afternoon would end up going to the stadium announcer, whose declaration of a new National League attendance record proved Notts County's only victory on a historic but ultimately disappointing afternoon.
Users must be 18+. If you are having trouble with gambling then help and advice can be found at begambleaware.org. Please Play Responsibly.
Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
