News

04/10/2008 - Half-time: Port Vale 0 Notts County 1

Jamie Forrester scored his third league goal of the season to fire Notts County into a 1-0 first half lead at Vale Park.

But the Magpies should have been ahead by more as they produced a scintillating attacking display in the opening 45 minutes.

They broke the deadlock after just six minutes from a sweeping attack that began with Myles Weston on the left wing.

He quickly played it inside to Forrester who laid it out to Matt Hamshaw on the opposite flank.

The winger then curled a delightful cross to the far post that Delroy Facey headed back across goal for Forrester to direct past Joe Anyon with a diving header.

Vale tried to stage a swift fight-back, winning two free-kicks just outside the penalty area. But Notts defended resolutely to protect their precious lead.

Hamshaw was involved again on 16 minutes, seizing onto a throw-in from the home side near the corner flag and whipping in another cross that went over Anyon, but was just too far in front of Weston who was charging in at the far post.

The Magpies threatened again minutes later when Weston lifted a pass into the penalty area that looped up off Luke Prosser. Facey tried to pounce when the ball dropped, but Anyon came off his line to claim it.

Vale came close to levelling on 21 minutes when Marc Richards rifled an effort just past the post from 25 yards.

Notts responded with a free-kick three minutes later that Hamshaw curled into the box and Mike Edwards met with a powerful header, but Anyon denied the Magpies’ captain.

Anyon also made a save low down to thwart Forrester just before the half-hour mark, after the striker pulled the trigger from the edge of the penalty area. He then parried a great first-time effort from Facey.

Facey side-footed just wide from Weston’s left-wing cross on 33 minutes and then Hamshaw hit the side-netting from inside the box as the Magpies ended the half dominantly.