Notts County 1-1 Bromley (National League) 26.10.21

Notts were held to a point at Meadow Lane last night by Bromley, seeing both sides extend their unbeaten runs.

A lively start from the Magpies was nearly rewarded just five minutes in. A swift break forward saw the ball fall to Ruben Rodrigues. The Portuguese playmaker produced a wonderful backheeled through pass into the feet of Kyle Wootton, who’s low effort was spilled by Mark Cousins and into the path of in-form Frank Vincent. The midfielder was heroically denied his third goal in as many games due to a last-ditch challenge from a recruiting Bromley defender and as a result of this, the Ravens managed to hook the ball away to safety.

A first half with minimal goalmouth action nearly concluded with the game’s opener. The opportunity fell to the home side once again. Another break-away from Notts County ended with the surging Jim O’Brien drilling a fierce cross across the Bromley penalty area. However, the power behind the delivery proved to be too much for Ruben Rodrigues to handle and the chance went begging.

It was felt that the second half needed to hit the ground running following a lacklustre opening forty-five minutes. It appears this was mutually felt within Magpies captain Kyle Cameron, who gave his side the lead with a minute played following the restart. The atmosphere expanded as the seconds ticked on from the point in which the referee’s whistle sounded, and this urged the hosts to get at the Ravens backline.  The attack resulted with a golden opportunity for a curled effort for Notts’ captain and he took that opportunity with perfection. Being urged to shoot by the Kop stand behind the Bromley goal, Cameron steadied himself before firing into the top right corner, which lifted the roof of a Meadow Lane stadium with five thousand of the Notts faithful in attendance.

Five minutes beyond the opener, the visitors failed to capitalise on a glorious chance to draw themselves level.  Corey Whitely found the feet of talisman Michael Cheek, who flicked the ball through to George Alexander. Baring down on goal, Alexander unleashed a powerful effort towards the Notts goal. However, the shot was well saved by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Two minutes after Bromley’s opportunity of an equaliser, Notts County nearly doubled the lead. Getting forward aggressively in numbers for the most part of the second half, it was expected for the Magpies to be presented with many goalscoring opportunities. This time, a nice exchange of passes between Jim O’Brien and Frank Vincent freed up open space for Vincent on the edge of the Bromley penalty area. Utilising the open sight of goal, the 22-year-old looked destined to increase his side’s advantage to two. This was until the shot was met by the right hand of goalkeeper Mark Cousins, who turned the ball behind for a corner.

In the eightieth minute, Bromley found their all-important equaliser.  Following a failed attempt to clear their lines, Notts County found themselves in masses of bother around their own six-yard box. As a result of this, a goalmouth scramble formed and as all good strikers do, Michael Cheek turned poacher to stab the ball into the back of the net. This was Bromley’s star man’s tenth goal of the campaign thus far.

The equaliser set up for an enthralling closing ten minutes of a closely contested game under the lights at Meadow Lane.

Just five minutes following Cheek entering double digits for the season, Notts County saw a golden opportunity of their own cannon off the crossbar. Substitute and highly dangerous Cal Roberts weaved in from the right-hand side and was encouraged to shoot by a tense home crowd. The winger fulfilled the wishes of the fans and sent a swerved effort towards goal. Mark Cousins appeared to have been beaten and can appreciate the aid of his crossbar due to this as Roberts’ effort crashed off the top of the crossbar and went behind for a goal-kick. Share relief travelled internally within the Bromley squad, so much it could be felt within each set of supporters.

The fourth official indicated four minutes of injury time and you felt one last big opportunity was transpiring in this game. This big opportunity did transpire and went begging for the hosts.  A late surge forwarded from the Magpies seemed as if it was on the verge of being rewarded. A careful move around the penalty area freed up Kairo Mitchell, who received the ball in acres of space just outside the Ravens’ six-yard box. However, the forward’s effort was hit straight and into the grateful grasp of Mark Cousins, who held onto the ball buying valuable seconds for his side.

Mitchell’s opportunity turned out to be the final opportunity for either side to find a winner as the final whistle followed just moments later. The game resulted Notts County 1-1 Bromley.

So, what is next for both sides?

For Notts County, a trip to Grimsby Town this Saturday awaits. With an expected crowd close to a sell out in the fifth tier of English football, you can expect quite the game at Blundell Park this weekend. With the Mariners falling to defeat at Wealdstone last night, the Magpies shouldn’t be shy of confidence going into this one.

As for Bromley, they return to home turf as they welcome FC Halifax Town. On an impressive unbeaten run of their own, the Ravens will no doubt be looking to once again extend their form beyond Saturday, keeping them comfortably within the Vanarama National League play-off places. However, the Shaymen were 1-0 winners over Dagenham n Redbridge last night so there’s an expectation of another close encounter at Hayes Lane this weekend.

Notts County: Patterson, Taylor, Brindley, Cameron, Rawlinson, Kelly-Evans, O’Brien, Palmer, Vincent (Roberts 66), Rodrigues (Mitchell 80), Wootton

Bromley: Cousins, Bingham, Webster, Sowunmi, Bush, Whiteley (Forster 56), Arthurs, Trotter (Dennis 61), Alexander (Alabi 61), Coulson, Cheek.

Venue: Meadow Lane (5,332)

*Article provided by K-Ci Rennicks (Notts County Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Taylor in action for Notts as the Magpies are forced to settle for a draw.