Notts County Football Club

Christian Burgess headed home the winner as Notts suffered a 2-1 defeat to Peterborough United at Meadow Lane.

Marcus Maddison put the visitors in front after his shot from distance deflected in past Roy Carroll.

The Magpies levelled five minutes before the break, Garry Thompson fired in from inside the box with a wonderful effort as the ball went in off the post.

However, Peterborough went back in front after the break, Christian Burgess met a Joe Newell corner to head in off the post. 

Notts pressed late on, but couldn’t find an equaliser. Will Hayhurst came the closest as Scott Loach tipped his freekick round the post. 

Two changes were made by Notts County manager Shaun Derry following the 0-0 with Doncaster in midweek at the Keepmoat Stadium. Coming into the side were two players making their first starts for the Magpies, after joining the club in January. Both Balint Bajner and Billy Daniels started the game after making a substitute appearance each since signing for the club.

Bajner, who come off the bench in the draw against Doncaster, started in the place of Kwame Thomas following his bizarre dismissal in the stalemate. Billy Daniels who scored the winner in his last home game against Crewe off the bench, started today. Gary Jones was the man to be replaced, as he took his place on the bench.

The away side got off to the better start of the two teams. The ball was played through to Kyle Vassell who ghosted into the box, he tried to play the ball to the far post, but there was no one there to get on the end of the dangerous ball.

From there, it was Notts who had a lot of the possession, Alan Smith had a shot blocked from the edge of the area. A long throw also eventually fell to Curtis Thompson on the edge of the box, he turned his marker and took a shot at goal, and his effort flew over the bar.

With only 13 minutes gone on the clock, Peterborough took the lead through a deflected attempt. Marcus Maddison received the ball around 30 yards from goal, he took a number of touches before trying his luck from distance, but his shot took a massive deflection on route, leaving Roy Carroll wrong footed as it hit the back of the net.

Peterborough continued to press following their goal, a free kick was floated into the box right onto the head of Michael Bostwick, who flicked the ball towards goal. However, Carroll brilliantly got across goal to flick the effort over the bar.

County were incredibly close to getting level. A brilliant ball over the top from Alan Smith played Balint Bajner in on goal. Despite the increased pressure from the Posh defence, Bajner managed to get a shot away, but Scott Loach closed him down as the ball went out for a corner.

Notts grew in confidence as Bajner was brought down on the edge of the box for a freekick. Will Hayhurst stood over it as he bent a magnificent effort towards the near post, but it went narrowly wide of the post.

Notts were rewarded for their pressure with an equaliser five minutes before half time and it was a wonderful effort too. The ball was played up field and flicked on by Bajner into the path of Garry Thompson inside the box. The ball set up perfectly for Thompson as he hit it sweetly in off the near post to draw the Magpies level.

Peterborough managed to have a couple of half chances before the break, Vassell first as he completely missed the ball after it was pulled back to him on the edge of the six yard box. Then Harry Beautyman from the distance as he sliced his effort wide.

Notts started the brighter in the second half, winning a number of free kicks allowing them to get the ball forward. Garry Thompson was fouled on the half way line, the ball was floated into the box before falling to half time substitute Gary Jones on the edge of the area. He tried his luck but his shot was sliced wide of the target.

Down the other end, Peterborough weren’t far away from going ahead once again. Good wing play from Joe Newell allowed the left sided player to cut inside before finding Kyle Vessell in the box, Vessell tried to fire in at the near post, but his shot went the wrong side of the post.

Notts weren’t far away from taking the lead themselves. Will Hayhurst put a brilliant set piece onto the head of Haydn Hollis. Hollis headed towards goal, but it was straight at Loach who caught the ball with ease.

It was becoming an end to end game as Roy Carroll pulled an incredible save to deny the visitors from going ahead. Joe Newell found Jermaine Anderson inside the box, Anderson’s shot looked to be going in top corner, but Carroll was there to deny. From the resulting corner, Peterborough took the lead, as Christian Burgess met the corner from Joe Newell to head home off the post.

Straight from the off, County were close to getting level once again. Billy Daniels played an accurate through ball for an on running Garry Thompson. Thompson was nearly in one on one with Loach, but the keeper claimed the ball just in time to deny him from having a second of the afternoon.

Notts were very close to getting that equaliser once again. Quick feet from Ronan Murray earned Notts a corner 25 yards from goal. It was Hayhurst again who took it. His shot was going in, but a brilliant save from Loach denied him as he tipped it round the post. Hayden White got on the end of the resulting corner, but he headed over.

Notts continued to press as they searched for the equaliser, Alefe Santos was brought on the right to attack the visitors. A speculative effort from Bajner earned Notts a corner with only minutes left of normal time. The corner was played short to Santos as he tried to weave his way into the box. His cross went out for a goal kick. Murray had an effort from inside the box saved by Loach.

The ball was being pumped forward to get that equaliser. It was all Notts at this point. A number of crosses and corners were being floated in, but Peterborough defended well to deny the Magpies from levelling the game.

His second man of the match in two games after a sterling performance both at Doncaster and today. He was a delight to watch against Peterborough as he showed determination, and good skill. 

A number of times he intercepted passes from the opposition, whilst showing some incredible footwork to get him out of some difficult situations in the middle of the park. 

Both defensively and offensively he was very good. Best player on the pitch today.

Notts County: Carroll, White, Hollis, Mullins ©, Adams, Hayhurst, C Thompson, Smith (Jones, 46), G Thompson (Santos, 78), Daniels (Murray, 65), Bajner

Substitutes: Pilkington, Dumbuya, Murray, Jones, Whitehouse, Cranston, Santos

Peterborough United: Loach, Smith ©, Brisley, Bostwick, Vassell (James, 77), Washington (McLean, 92), J Anderson, Newell, Burgess, Maddison (Oztumer, 77), Beautyman

Subsitutes: Henry, Ntlhe, Payne, James, Oztumer, McLean, H Anderson