Notts County 2-0 Solihull Moors (National League) 27.01.21

Two late goals for Kyle Wootton, his seventh and eighth in fifteen National League games this season, were enough to give Notts County all three points against resolute opposition in Solihull at the Lane as the Magpies move into the Playoff places and above their West Midland opponents in the division to seventh in the table.

County didn’t have it all their own way and were made to be patient with a first half of few and far between. The best chance coming after 35 minutes for the away side when Ball shot tamely at Slocombe following a slick move by James Shan’s men who looked themselves rather comfortable in possession against the home team’s lack of attacking potency.

Notts failed to make any strides in the early exchanges of the second half too, but a double substitution saw Rodrigues and Knowles introduced and finally a shot at goal came when full back Dion Kelly-Evans cracked an effort against the bar as he broke forward from the right, some wondering if it weren’t to be Neal Ardley’s side’s night after that thunderbolt near miss on 77 minutes.

But with little more than ten minutes remaining, Wootton was on hand following good work, no great work by Boldewijn who danced and dazzled before assisting the Notts hot-shot to fire home from close range and give Notts the lead that their patience had craved for.

As time ticked on it was two as substitutes combined with Knowles playing back to Rodrigues who dually obliged for Wootton to do what he does best and put the match out of sight with another neat finish.

A big win, a late show in what was a tough test against a stern side, Notts far from had it their own way and it wasn’t pretty at all (until late on at least), but winning ugly counts as much as winning pretty these days and the three points taken are very much the reward for rolling up the sleeves and digging in.

Next up Weymouth where a win on Saturday could take the Magpies to within a point of second.

Notts County: Slocombe, Kelly-Evans, Lacey, Rawlinson, Miller, Doyle, Reeves, O’Brien (Knowles 68), Boldewijn, Effiong (Rodrigues 68), Wootton.

Solihull Moors: Boot, Ball, Cameron, Cranston, Storer, Howkins, Coxe (Hancox 75), Williams, Ward (Sbarra 54), Hudlin (Rooney 68), Maycock.

Venue: Meadow Lane

*Main image @Official_NCFC the three amigos Enzio, Ruben & goalscorer Wootton celebrate.