With the Carrington Sports Ground literally underwater, the chances of this league game going ahead looked slim, but the superbly maintained pitch at Grassington Road was in remarkable condition given all the snow and rain it had taken over the previous three weeks.
With both teams not having played since before Christmas you would have expected both sides to be rusty, but it was the home side that were all at sea for the opening 30 minutes as the visitors ran riot with some sparkling attacking football, aided by some woeful Notts defending.
Flowserve took the lead in the first minute as a corner was whipped in and Harvey couldn't keep it out at the near post. A second followed on 10 minutes as a good move ended with a weakish shot that again beat Harvey, who had one of his more nervous days in goal.
Notts were beginning to get into their stride going forward by now though and they were having all the chances at the other end. Rose, Greensmith and Johnson all had good chances and Wood struck the post before the visitors broke away to score an excellent third with a fierce shot that gave Harvey no chance.
Notts responded well and after this they got their defence better organised and largely neutralised the lively Flowserve attack.
After several more good opportunities were spurned and the visiting keeper had turned aside two good shots, a thumping drive from Liam Wood on 35 minutes gave the home side hope before the break.
The second half was almost constant one way traffic in Notts favour. The visitirs defended much better in the second half and still looked lively on the break, but Harvey only had one shot to deal with in the second 45 minutes as Notts dominated.
The chances began to come as the half progressed. Top scorer Rose and his strike partner Greensmith both had chances to get Notts back into the game, but a combination of poor decision making, bad finishing and good defending kept Notts at bay.
At times, it seemed certain that a goal would come. Greensmith beat the keeper, but had a shot blocked on the line, he then beat the last defender, but dragged his shot wide from only three yards.
Notts did give themselves a chance as they were awarded a penalty for handball that Rosey converted, but it was too little too late and Notts were left to rue their poor first half defending and their poor second half finishing. |
