Notts County 0-1 Aldershot Town (National League) 30.03.21

An early penalty awarded against Notts and converted by the Shots was enough to give the away side victory in Magpies new Head Coach Ian Burchnall’s first National League game in charge, not going to plan after Saturdays FA Trophy defeat as County now fall in the promotion race too.

Burchnall went back to basics in his starting XI with Ben Turner in for Connell Rawlinson and Elisha Sam replacing Ruben Rodrigues whilst Jim O’Brien came in for the injured Michael Doyle but the side were one down as soon as the fourth minute when a softly awarded spot kick was given when Mark Ellis was adjudged to have brought down Harrison Panayiotou who dusted himself down to stand up and score past Sam Slocombe.

On 12 minutes Calvin Miller had a half chance to equalise but fired wide from twenty yards after Wootton’s nod down whilst just after the half hour the centre forwards own cross evaded everyone including the waiting Eli Sam who was inches away. The problematic Panayiotou at the other end hitting the bar with an effort that might have put the Shots two up.

In the second half, Notts brought on Jimmy Knowles for Sam early-doors but a combination of the away sides resilience and the home teams poor attacking resulted in nothing of any real note until the 87^th minute when Knowles shot well saved by Mitch Walker.

A minute later the Mansfield Town loanee could only hit the side netting after Effiong nodded down inside the area, two spurned opportunities for the youngster who might have snatched a point had he had his shooting boots on.

The defeat however was deserved and leaves Notts sixth in the table on 46 points but now with one less game in hand on those around them. Two still in the bag on those above, they are far from out of the race for promotion, but will have to pick themselves up with two games in four days this weekend and a busy April ahead.

Burchnall said after “It was frustrating, the game didn’t start how we wanted it to start, the penalty set us back in a big way, coming from behind played into their hands and allowed them to sit back and counter and we didn’t have enough tempo to break them down”

The new man also stated there might be an addition in the midfield with the club light in that department but Burchnall said “other than that I think the players that we’ve got can give us what we need”.

Notts County: Slocombe, Barnett, Turner, Ellis, Kelly-Evans, Miller (Rodrigues 75), O’Brien, Reeves, Boldewijn (Effiong 86), Sam (Knowles 55), Wootton.

Aldershot Town: Walker, Sendles-White, Andersson, Edser, Kandi (Bettamer 70), Nouble (Kinsella 83), Whittingham, Rees, Phillips, Panayiotou (Lyons-Forster 90), Ogie.

*Main image @Official_NCFC not a good day for Notts who must pick themselves up on Friday against Wrexham.