Saturday’s encounter saw Notts County travel to Essex to face Colchester. Notts looked to improve in their defensive display after the Forest Green game saw them concede 3 goals. Colchester, on the other hand, were looking to push themselves up the table and get three important points to distance themselves from the relegation zone. The game did not disappoint, with Notts coming out on the wrong side of it losing 5-4.
The magpies came into the game with Aidan Stone in goal and the same back three of Baldwin, Brindley and Cameron. Nemane returned to the lineup after serving his one game suspension with Jones partnering him as a wing back. Bostock dropped to the bench with Austin and Palmer playing as the two central midfielders. This left the usual attacking trio of Crowley, McGoldrick and Langstaff who looked to inflict damage upon the Colchester back line.
Notts as always looked to make a high tempo start, looking to create openings in the Colchester defence. However, it was the U’s who struck first- Noah Chilvers striking from range into an open goal following a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Stone. Notts needed to reply fast otherwise Colchester would definitely have another big chance. They did so in style, with Sam Austin pouncing on the rebound following Langstaff’s shot saved low. County now needed to control the next moments of the game and relax when they were in possession.
Colchester reinstated their lead shortly after with the defence unable to handle the physicality of Fevrier, who fired his effort into the net. It was a poor response to the equaliser, which should’ve gave the Magpies momentum. It soon got worse for Notts as Read bent a fantastic free kick into the top right corner in the 38th minute, making it 3-1 to the U’s. This game was at risk of becoming embarrassing for Notts, and a reaction needed to be shown after the referee brought the first half to a close.
The team talk from Luke Williams seemed to have had a great effect on the team, with Macaulay Langstaff instantly limiting the deficit, turning Cameron’s effort into the back of the net. They were then unlucky to not be level after Palmer’s cross had just too much power for Jones to strike home. However a minute later, Colchester had their two goal cushion return with McGeehan tapping in a low ball across goal into an open net. This did not last too long, with Jodi Jones having a moment of individual brilliance, curling his shot into the top right corner, applying pressure to come away with a point.
The pendulum once again swung in favour of the hosts who were next to add to the goalscoring thriller- Read sending his left footed shot lashing into the top corner, giving Stone no chance whatsoever. The home side then saw McGeehan receive his second yellow card, instilling a hint of hope into the Magpies. Notts did pull a goal back in the 92nd minute, heading home to create an interesting ending. Notts pushed as hard as they could, but unfortunately they were not able to get themselves level once more meaning Colchester came away with the 5-4 win.
It was an entertaining game for a neutral, but once again frustrations were shown with some mistakes which gifted the home side goals. Despite scoring 4 goals, Notts failed to control the game in important moments, which ultimately led to County’s downfall. Overall, it was a disappointing display from Notts and they will look to improve in time for a massive game against the League 2’s top scorers Swindon Town on Tuesday night.
Starting 11: 26 Stone -15 Baldwin, 2 Brindley, 4 Cameron - 11 Nemane (61’), 18 Palmer (61’), 8 Austin (46’), 10 Jones, 7 Crowley - 17 McGoldrick, 9 Langstaff
Subs Used: 16 Bostock (46’), 6 O’Brien (61’), 21 Adebayo (61’)
Subs Unused: 1 Slocombe, 5 Rawlinson, 14 Randall, 23 Chicksen