An emotional week for Notts County ended with a 2-1 win against Aldershot Town this afternoon.

With the loss of ex-manager Jimmy Sirrel, the pre-match events were a time where all at Meadow Lane could show their support and appreciation for a man that was a key figure in County's history.

A minutes applause before kick was fitting, with The Kop in full voice and ex players and colleagues at pitch side, Meadow Lane paid their respect to the late Sirrel.

And so to the game.

Ian McParland made just two changes to the team that drew away at Exeter City, with Gavin Strachan and Mike Edwards replacing Jay Smith and Adam Tann.

Aldershot started the game well, creating a chance in the second minute. The newly promoted League Two team, who sat sixth in the table before kick-off, did not just come to sit back.But County countered their explosive start with a chance of their own. Myles Weston was released on the right wing and he sent an inviting cross into the box only for Butcher to header just over the cross bar.

The referee harshly adjudged Michael Johnson to have handled the ball in the ninth minute, this gave Aldershot Town the chance to test the County defence, but the towering Russell Hoult came rushing out to collect the ball in mid flight.

Gary Waddock, The Shots manager, would have been happy with the way his team had started against County. Ben Harding and Scott Davies gaining an early advantage in the midfield, they linked up well and set up an opportunity for the powerful Marvin Morgan to score.

Fourteen minutes into the game and a great whipped ball into the County penalty box nearly gave Aldershot the chance to go ahead, with the ball evading all the players and going out for a throw in.

The Magpies then had a great chance from a corner kick. Matt Hamshaw swung in a great ball into the box where it eventually fell to the feet of Jamie Forrester, only for the diminutive striker to tamely hit the ball through a defenders legs and into the hands of Aldershot captain Nikki Bull.

Kirk Hudson then sent a blistering shot just over the cross bar on the twenty three minute mark. With both sets of defences looking good, this was a first half with very few clear cut chances.

Both teams looked threatening on the break, Jamie Forrester, Myles Weston and Delroey Facey all testing the defensive capabilities of The Shots back line.The first half ended with a booking for Marvin Morgan for a foul Johnson.

The second half started with a good tempo, County opened up Aldershots defence minutes into the half. Jason Beardsley, who had been a spectator in the first half found himself in space in the centre circle, he then drove a beautiful through ball to Matt Hamshaw, who then pulled the trigger, unfortunately Bull collected hit shot with ease.

Much like the first half, Aldershot responded with a testing, direct shot from Louie Soares. If The Magpies were going to keep their unbeaten record going they were going to have to do the hard after conceding to a Anthony Charles goal in the fifty second minute. County conceded a corner, and while the ball wasn't great into the box,Charles was left unmarked and he headed home to give Aldershot the lead.

Gary Waddock's team had the bit between their teeth. They were on the attack again with the impressive Louie Soares sending an inviting cross towards the back post, only for Morgan to miss hit the ball completely.

County were beginning to get back into the game half an hour from time, Weston was causing problems with his pace, but they never created any clear cut chances for strikers Forrester and Facey. Weston nearly levelled it up with a powerful shot straight at the keeper.

On a day when County fans and ex players were paying their respect to the late Jimmy Sirrel it was quite fitting that Michael Johnson- who was a young squad member under Sirrel -headed home to make it all square. County were awarded a free kick on the left hand wing, Hamsahw stepped up to take it, and he whipped it into the box, where Johnson was there to convert the great ball into the back of the next. It's not two in two for Johnson!

With a succession of substitutions from both managers, Richards Butcher ensured he wasn't about to be taken off by hassling the Aldershot midfield like a wolverine chasing its next meal!

Ben Harding on the seventy minute mark had a pop at Russell Hoult from thirty yards but the shot trailed out for a goal kick.

County could have lost the game in the closing minutes with a shot that was scrapped through an array of both County and Aldershot players, but Hoult was their again to save County.

Richards Butcher then got the winner in the closing stages to secure that overdue first win of the season.

The forth official had just indicated that there would be five minutes of injury time. A great ball into the box by Clapahm found Butcher where he looped a header over the scrambling Bull to secure all three points for County.

The sponsors man of the match had just secured County's first win of the season - and the win for Jimmy.

That one's for you Sir Sirrel!

Full Time: Notts County 2-1 Aldershot Town

Notts County: Hoult, Beardsley, Clapham, Edwards (C), Johnson, Hamshaw, Strachan (Smith 77), Butcher, Weston, Facey (Canham 70), Forrester (Weir-Daley 82)
Subs Not Used: Pilkington, Tann
Booked: None
Sent Off: None
Goals: Johnson (56), Butcher (90)

Aldershot Town: Bull (C), Blackburn, Charles, Soares, Grant (Elvins 75), Morgan (Hylton 59), Howell, Hudson (Chalmers 81), Harding, Osborne, Davies
Subs Not Used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Donnelly
Booked: Morgan, Charles
Sent Off: None
Goals: Charles (52)

Match Referee: Mr C Boyeson

Attendance: 6,033

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Jamie Forrester

Report by Ryan Miller