Stacy Long - Hero

Gudjon Thordarson claimed a late, late victory this evening over Wrexham at Meadow Lane, with super sub Stacy Long netting on a dream debut in injury time.

Long, only off the bench for his debut in the last fifteen minutes, kept a cool head to round goalkeeper Mike Ingham and slot the ball home. It was a dramatic finish to the game after things looked to be heading towards another goalless draw.

Notts began the game against the League Two leaders with Dan Martin and Glynn Hurst slipping out of the starting XI, with Rob Ullathorne and Andy White stepping into the side. There was also no place on the bench for Jake Sheridan, with Stacy Long being named on the bench.

The Magpies began life at home shooting towards the Kop End, starting off well on the attack and using the ball well, although Wrexham had a good chance with Jones clear on goal, but the flag went up as he burst clear on goal. Notts' first surge at Wrexham saw O'Callaghan and Pipe combine well but Pipe's cross was well cleared with White waiting to pounce.

Notts again could have took the lead on four minutes when good battling play by White saw his beat Lawrence in the air and get away just inside the box and zip a fine ball across the box which Scoffham was only a matter of inches away from, again signalling Notts' intentions early on as they set out to attack the visitors from the off.

Mark Jones had Wrexham's first real chance on ten minutes with a long-range right-foot shot which dipped just over the crossbar although Pilkington did have he effort covered as the leaders looked to remain leaders of the pack at this early stage while Walters again had to have a go from long range, but was this time wide of the target.

Clear cut, and even half chances were proving hard to come by in the opening twenty or so minutes, but Notts were again putting in plenty of effort, and also showing the patience Gudjon Thordarson had called for before the game.

On twenty six minutes Notts finally had an effort at goal when Ferguson gave the ball away cheaply in the midfield and left McMahon free to have a run and effort at goal, but his effort was high over the bar as he looked for his first Notts County goal since signing from Sheffield Wednesday in early July.

Jones in the middle of the park was looking Wrexham's most attacking and dangerous, and he again slammed an effort over the bar after Notts gave the ball away just outside the box, but again Pilkington was again not tested while Walters fired a cross into the six-yard box which Wilson cleared while the Dragons piled on pressure as they won a corner after a shot was deflected wide.

The Magpies did have a good call for a spot-kick when Scoffham seemed to be clipped by Holt after a quick break. The contact was not intentional but there did seem to be a slight touch on the forward. And, a goal seemed certain for Notts moments later when Andy White held the ball up well and found McMahon who from around twelve yards looked a certain scorer but someone Ingham made a superb stop and tipped the ball behind. From the resulting corner Baudet lobbed over the bar as Nott upped the pressure with two corners in a minute.

Unbelievably Notts couldn't take the lead when the corner was driven in. The ball found its way to Wilson at the back stick and his powerful effort was at Ingham who palmed it away into the path of Wilson who was lay flat on his backside, and hit another effort which lacked power and the goalkeeper gathered with ease. All this happened on thirty four minutes after Notts held out under the early pressure from Stockport.

Scoffham was again working hard up front with a number of runs pulling the centre-backs out wide and this resulted in a number of challenges that won Notts a few free-kicks which pressure on the Dragons and a Palmer cross was headed behind with Edwards lurking at the back stick.

Half time arrived scoreless, just as it was on Saturday at Torquay, but Notts would have gone in more disappointed having not taken one of the two really decent chances which made Ingham earn his money just after the half-hour mark.

No changes were made at the break with Notts attacking the Meadow Lane End in the second period as they looked for their first goal, and win, under Gudjon Thordarson. It was Wrexham who mounted the pressure early in the half with former Rochdale forward McEvilly sliced an effort well wide of Pilkington's far post.

Notts could have sneaked ahead seven minutes into the half when Palmer's cross was headed across the six-yard box by Wilson, but no-one was a 'fox in the box' to sneak the ball home and Wrexham cleared. It took until the hour for the next effort, but Wrexham failed to test Pilkington as Ferguson fired well over the crossbar.

McMahon again tested Ingham with a good effort from the edge of the box after a Pipe dummy, but the Northern Ireland International third-choice goalkeeper behind Premier League boys Maik Taylor and Roy Carroll, dived to his right and palmed the ball away to Palmer, but from a tight angle the winger lashed the ball just over with plenty of power behind the shot. Wilson and Danny Williams were booked a minute later after an off-the-ball incident between the two.

Wrexham continued to look dangerous when crosses were whipped into Notts' box, and this time Danny Williams managed to get on the end of a Holt cross, but his header was just wide of the angle while Baudet, a scorer from two set-pieces in a pre-season game at Doncaster, couldn't repeat the feat that he did at the Earth Stadium with an effort which was easily gathered by Ingham, the busier of the two custodians.

Notts could easily have been down to ten as Wrexham got clean through McEvilly and was brought down just a few millimetres outside the box when David Pipe brought down the Irishman, but Notts got lucky as Mr Thorpe awarded a free-kick and no card. The resultant free-kick was blocked by Notts' wall.

Stacy Long was introduced with fifteen minutes to go replacing Palmer on the wing, and slotted in just behind White and Scoffham, while Wrexham also threw Bennett into the action in place of McEvilly. Wrexham dominated proceedings for five minutes or so with plenty of possession, but only had a long range effort from Jones saved with ease although Pilkington did dive for the effort while Walters hit a powerless effort at Pilkington, who saved easily.

The lively Scoffham was replaced by last season's top scorer Glynn Hurst in the last ten minutes with the fit-again forward having worked so hard all night he looked run into the ground after another promising showing.

Notts' fans aimed to give their players one last final push in the five minutes with a loud roar to get the ball forward in search of their first goal of the season, but Wrexham were dominant at the back with Lawrence in particular solid and winning every ball that came his way. Midfielder Mathew Gill was introduced into the action with three minutes left for his first appearance of the season, replacing Andy White as Notts left Hurst along in attack with Long his support in the hole just behind him although moments later Mike Edwards was pushed into attack.

And, would you believe it just as the clock turned onto ninety minutes Stacy Long was sent through clean on goal by Mike Edwards and the ex-Charlton man did the job of rounding Ingham and slotting the ball home. He then set off in celebration to the Z Block to celebrate with the fans and also his team-mates. The cheer was the loudest of the evening, and certainly handed Notts a fantastic start on home turf, especially when the game looked all set for a goalless draw.

A criminal challenge by Bayliss on Hurst soon after the goal left the substitute flat on the deck, although he amazingly only landed a yellow card. Wrexham did push for a leveller but Notts remained solid, composed and disciplined despite the rise in the heat of the game as things got a little heated.

Notts County: Pilkington, Pipe, Edwards, O'Callaghan, Baudet, Palmer (Long), Scoffham (Hurst), Ullathorne, Wilson, McMahon, White (Gill).
Subs Not Used: Deeney (Gk), Martin.
Booked: Wilson
Sent Off: None

Wrexham: Ingham, Bayliss, Lawrence, Holt, Williams, Walters, Ferguson, McEvilly, Roche, Jones, Pejic.
Subs Not Used: Michael Jones (Gk), Smith, Bennett, Mackin, Spender.
Booked: Williams, Bayliss
Sent Off: None

Referee: Mr M Thorpe, Suffolk

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: David Pipe