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Rob Wheldon at Meadow Lane Stags were
without the injured Michael Sisson, Bobby Hassell and John Andrews for the
County Cup tie with Second Division neighbours Notts County. All five new
signings, Hicks, Lomas, Pemberton, Robinson and Corden started the match, as did
keeper Ian Bowling who had recovered from a slight injury. For Notts,
ex-Stags keeper Darren Ward was in goal, despite mounting speculation about his In front of an appallingly low home support the Magpies made the brighter start and dominated the opening exchanges. However, the Stags soon found their feet and mounted a string of attacks without testing Ward. County then launched a quick counter attack on 13 minutes which saw them take the lead. Hicks failed in his bid to win the ball in the centre of midfield and Stallard found Hughes completely free who ran towards Bowling and slotted home neatly. Wayne Corden was particularly conspicuous on the Stags left and his corner nearly created the Stags first chance. After his corner had been headed back to him by Hicks the winger then hit a perfect right foot cross into the danger area only to see Redmile head clear. Stags then wasted their best opportunity of the match on 33 minutes after Lormor had flicked on a Lomas throw to find Pemberton unmarked 12 yards from goal. However, the new signing blazed his right foot shot over the bar and into the disappointed Stags fans behind the goal. Ian Bowling was forced into his first save after a quick free kick almost caught the Stags out - the experienced Stags stopped flew to his right to palm the ball wide. Just five minutes later Bowling was again called upon to make another save, this time from Stallard at point blank range. The out of contract keeper was certainly making his point to Stags boss Billy Dearden. Stags second best chance of the game came just two minutes before half-time. Greenacre found Lormor in the box, the striker tried to turn to shoot but saw Lomas free on his right, his pass found Lomas but the young winger took a little to long to get his shot away and it was blocked by the scrambling Redmile. Corden's subsequent corner was headed over by Hicks. Half-Time 1-0 Lee Williams
replaced Jamie Lomas at half time. Stags began in positive fashion and
Greenacre saw his fine right foot shot narrowly miss after just 3 minutes of the
2nd half. At the other end County almost A fairly average match in which the Stags gave a fairly average performance. On the positive side there were good displays from Asher and Bowling but on the down side Hicks played too many long hopeful balls and Lormor really failed to control possession in the last third. There were further quiet performances from Clarke and Lomas, though Pemberton impressed in the 2nd half, as did Greenacre. Ian Bowling made two excellent first half saves and looked the class keeper we know he is - it's time the club realised this and gave him the contract he deserves. Man of the Match: Ian Bowling
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future at Meadow Lane.
grabbed a second when Stallard
headed over though the Stags almost equalised when an audacious attempt by
Greenacre to lob Ward narrowly failed when the ball went just over the
bar. On 53 minutes Pemberton took a knock and need lengthy treatment
though he was ok to continue. On 59 minutes the Stags fell further behind
when both Robinson and Hicks failed to prevent a County cross from the left and
Dermott was on hand to slot the ball past the unprotected Bowling. Moments
later Danny Bacon replaced Lormor. On 68 minutes Greenacre broke through
the County defence but appeared to get the ball stuck under his feet and the
chance was wasted. Just moments later Ian Bowling superbly punched clear a
very dangerous left wing cross. Fifteen minutes before the end Pemberton
picked the ball up and after beating a couple of players fired narrowly
over. On 80 minutes Clarke was given a great chance by Bacon but Ward
saved the Stags midfielder's low shot.