Colin Slater MBE has penned his thoughts on how we've seen in 2021.
It’s only a few weeks since we were greeting friends, old and new alike, with three short and familiar words: "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
How many of us then seriously wondered how likely it was that our football club would generate greater happiness through improved performances and results?
We know now, thanks to the successes enjoyed in the first month of 2021 with three wins and a draw from four fixtures.
There were many features to admire, not least that Notts kept three clean sheets in all three National League matches at home to top-of-the-table Torquay and Solihull Moors and at Weymouth.
The solitary goal conceded was in the 2-1 win at Stockport in the FA Trophy and I’ve never known an unhappy manager given that sort of consistently good defensive return. Neal Ardley is no exception, rightly so!
On a personal level front man Kyle Wootton is entitled to feel well satisfied with his contribution of three goals, two against Solihull and the other at Stockport.
Chatting about all of this good news to another County enthusiast I was asked what other winning sequences over the years are fondly remembered?
Most recently was the stunning away record early in the League Two campaign of 2017-18, Kevin Nolan’s first full season as Notts manager.
After a 3-0 defeat at Coventry City on opening day, Notts won all four of the following matches on the road - at Wycombe, Port Vale, Crawley and - best of all - at Exeter City. Before the game Notts led the table with Exeter second, places that were unchanged after a resounding 3-0 win in County’s favour, Jorge Grant hitting two of them in the second half to follow an early strike by Lewis Alessandra.
It’s hardly a pleasure to recall that the sparkling run ended at Mansfield of all places when the Stags were 3-1 winners.
If nothing else it shows that attempting to forecast the likely result of future matches can be, and often is, a mug's game!