Notts County Football Club

Peter Vincenti finished from close range to succumb Notts County to a 2-1 defeat against Rochdale at Meadow Lane.

Notts went ahead midway through the first half, Garry Thompson got on the end of an Elliott Whitehouse cross to head home beyond Jamie Jones.

Rochdale levelled minutes later when Ian Henderson latched onto a Mike Edwards back pass, before rounding Roy Carroll and finishing from a tight angle.

Garry Thompson should have put Notts back ahead, but he scuffed his shot wide from close range.

Rochdale took the lead in the second half, Peter Vincenti finished from close range after Ian Henderson’s initial shot came back off the post.

The Magpies searched for the equaliser late on but couldn’t find one, Garry Thompson fired wide from inside the box.

Magpies’ manager Shaun Derry named an unchanged team from the side that earned a 1-1 draw with Bradford City at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Fresh from scoring his third goal of the season that earned the point at the weekend, Mike Edwards kept his place at the heart of the defence. Elliott Whitehouse too kept his place in the side, having returned to the squad following his loan spell with Nuneaton. Garry Thompson, who fired in the last gasp equaliser in the reverse fixture started up front with Leroy Lita.

Former Magpies Fabian Brandy and Josh Lillis were on the bench for the visitors ahead of the League One fixture.

Notts got the game underway, and had the first half chance of the evening just two minutes in. Paddy McCourt took on the defender, played the ball into Garry Thompson, who turned and played an unorthodox pass into the box. Elliott Whitehouse got to the ball and volleyed it over the bar. The Magpies continued on a positive start, McCourt again dispossessed his marker and ran for goal himself. He opted to shoot himself, but his effort went over the bar.

It took ten minutes for Rochdale to register their first shot on goal. Tom Kennedy had space to cross on the left, he found Ian Henderson alone at the back post. The striker went to hit it first time, but his volley looped over the bar, giving Roy Carroll no problems.

Notts enjoyed a lengthy spell of possession, but it was Rochdale again who searched for the opener. Jamie Allen found Andy Cannon on the right, he turned inside Haydn Hollis and unleashed an effort from the edge of the box, however it flew high and wide. Henderson too volley with the outside of his foot, but couldn’t quite guide his effort on target.

Down the other end, McCourt was pulling all the strings for the Magpies, once again he turned his man, but Jamie Jones in the Rochdale goal, saved his effort well, Blair Adams followed up, but his shot was well saved.

Notts had been the better side for the opening 30 minutes and the scoreline reflected that following Garry Thompson’s tenth of the season breaking the deadlock. Curtis Thompson played the ball out wide for Elliott Whitehouse. His cross took a slight deflection towards the back post, where Thompson was waiting to head beyond Jamie Jones to give Notts the lead.

The visitors equalised only four minutes later, a ball was played over the top to what looked to be an offside Ian Henderson. Mike Edwards went to head the ball back to Carroll, but didn’t get enough power on the ball. Henderson picked up the loose ball, rounded Carroll and finished well from a tight angle.

Notts could and should have gone ahead again five minutes before the break. McCourt played the ball into Leroy Lita, who dummied for Garry Thompson at the back post, but he missed kicked the ball wide when he had just Jones to beat in the Dale goal. Curtis Thompson too had an effort from distance fizz past the post.

There was one last chance for Magpies before half time, Garry Thompson flicked the ball into the path of an on running Elliott Whitehouse, but his left footed shot was easily saved by Jones.

Notts started the brighter after the break, a quick freekick was played into McCourt on the wing, his shot was blocked, but it fell to Whitehouse, however he scuffed the ball wide from inside the box.

McCourt was having a good game in the black and white shirt, and opened another chance for Notts. He went past three Rochdale players before pulling the ball back for Gary Jones, but he shot wide from the edge of the area.

Garry Thompson was unlucky not to get another goal. He latched onto a long ball over the top, controlled well, and fired low and hard, but Jones got across well to deny. Lita ran in for the follow up, but Jack O’Connell defended well.

Against the run of the play, Rochdale took the lead. Henderson’s shot hit the inside of the post, right into the path of Peter Vincenti who had an easy job of tapping in from close range.

Will Hayhurst came on for Whitehouse as Notts looked for an equaliser. Curtis Thompson had a shot from inside the box go wide as he was leaning back.

Rochdale were inches away from extending their lead with 20 minutes remaining. Edwards brought down Stephen Dawson on the edge of the box. Michael Rose stood over the freekick, but his shot went just wide of the post, with Carroll rooted.

A quick move nearly got the Magpies level. Curtis Thompson nicked the ball in midfield, played Garry Thompson in behind the defence. The forward played the ball across goal for Will Hayhurst, who got a shot away, but it was blocked and deflected wide for a corner.

A piece of brilliance nearly got Notts an equaliser. Blair Adams received the ball on the left and skipped past two Dale players before unleashing a shot towards the near post. Jamie Jones got his goal and denied the left-back with an excellent save.

The Magpies continued to press as they searched for the equaliser late on, but couldn’t break down the Rochdale defence. Garry Thompson fired wide from close range, which turned out to be the last chance of the game.

Yet again, Thompson has had a fantastic game in the centre of midfield. Consistently winning possession and heading towards goal. 

His range of passing was on show, spreading the ball about the pitch. He had a couple of opportunities to get on the scoresheet, but he couldn’t find the target. 

Another good game for the young midfielder.

Rochdale: Jones, Bennett, Eastham, Vincenti, Dawson, O'Connell, Allen, Rose, Cannon, Kennedy, Henderson ©

Substitutes: Lillis, Lancashire, Brandy, Noble-Lazarus, Hery, Tanser, Bunney