Meadow Lane, home of Notts County based in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and compete in the National League. Nicknamed the “Magpies” as they play in Black & White. Formerly the World’s Oldest Football League club before they were relegated after 157 years in 2019… Can they get back there one day? Today they face Dagenham & Redbridge who are also looking to get back into the big time. Let’s hope it’s a cracker!
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow… Oh no! Plan A was York City with the Merry Miller but after being warned off it by the fans we met at Spennymoor, that will be for another time. Plan B has gone as Buxton has been postponed… Now for Plan C! But what is Plan C…? So many to choose from but with the potential disruptions getting back to Sheffield is leaving me with a difficult choice… I’ve been stood here at Sheffield station for about 20 minutes now and… Grimsby Town is the final decision and off I go!
Stopping at Doncaster and it’s Mariner Chris!! Fantastic to see him again, I’m in the top tier stand today which is getting me excited! Be prepared for the strong winds he says… Can’t wait for that! Here we are in Cleethorpes… That wind is crazy!!
Off I go to the ground, I’ll meet Chris again later. The walk to the ground now and the wind is relentless… It will not stop! Will I regret coming to the seaside on a day like this? How will the game play out? Here I am at the ground… Steward: “Sorry mate I can’t let you go any further.” Me: “How come mate?” Steward: “We have concerns about the Stadium.” Me: “No worries, is the game still on?” Steward: “No! The game is off…” Me: “Honestly?” Steward: “Yes mate it’s off…” Oh no!!!! I’ve come all this way and the game is off…?
Back to Cleethorpes station I go… Is this the day I finally miss a Saturday? Cleethorpes Town? Off! Grimsby Borough? Off! It’s not looking good… It could be the end… After a quick look on Futbology, there is only one game I can get to now… Notts County Vs Dagenham & Redbridge! It’s there or nowhere so back to Sheffield I go! But with time to kill, I can’t not try a Fish & Chips whilst here in Cleethorpes! Here I am at the shop next to the station! Absolutely delicious!! They’re not wrong when they say it’s good here!! Now for a quick drink in the station bar before the train gets here.
Here I am, 20 minute delay to Nottingham… It’s not looking good is it? Finally I’m on my way and here I am… I’ve made it! My third visit to this ground with the previous visits being with Mansfield Town and true to form, I am going in the away end tonight with the Dagenham fans! £23 to watch this National League tie! I WILL NOT MISS A SATURDAY!!!!! Unless it’s important anyway… The atmosphere is hotting up! “Black & White army!” From the Notts fans. “DIGGER DAGGER DIGGER DAGGER! OI OI OI!!” From the Dagenham fans!
Kick Off! “Dagenham Dagenham Dagenham!!” Dagenham fans going for it so far but the Notts drum is banging still! 11 minutes in and Notts have a free kick on the left side of the edge of the box, Ruben Rodrigues steps up… Good save by Justham in the Dagenham goal! In comes the Notts corner… Dagenham clear.
14th minute and County play forward, a through ball to the left side, County get there and it’s played across low, Dagenham get to it but it comes to Frank Vincent on the edge of the box to shoot… It’s blocked and Dagenham clear. “Black & White army!” Notts fans are going for it tonight!
24 minutes played and Dagenham have a throw in on the left hand side, played in, Angelo Balanta has it, he plays it inside to Matt Robinson who drives forward to the edge of the box and he goes for goal… Just wide!! Close! 3 minutes later and Dagenham have a throw in on the left again just a hit more upfield this time, it’s played in and Dagenham have it, it’s played inside to Dean Rance who plays it through for Mauro Vilhete who’s in… Good save by the keeper! County clear!
35th minute now and County have a corner, in it comes… Frank Vincent with the header… It’s gone in!!! County have the lead!! Just like that! 1-0!!! Dagenham fans not impressed… Can they respond?
41 minutes gone and Dagenham have a corner, whipped in… Angelo Balanta is there with the header… YES!! He’s got it!!!!! It’s the equaliser!!! It’s 1-1!!!! Game on!! 1-1 is how the score would be at half time.
Second half, “Digger Dagger Digger Dagger! OI OI OI!!!” The Dagenham fans still going for it despite being outnumbered by the County fans. 51st minute and County come down the right hand side, played in low for Ruben Rodrigues to shoot first time… Over!! Should’ve done better for me there! 2 minutes later and Dagenham have a corner, in it comes… Callum Reynolds runs in… OH! Just wide! Could’ve been more there!
It’s a slow half so far this half with both teams not really showing any signs of breaking each other down in the final third. 63rd minute and County come forward down the right wing again, crossed in, Ruben Rodrigues with a free header… OH! He’s put it wide! Sitter! He should’ve hit the target there surely!
“Dagenham Dagenham Dagenham!” Dagenham fans still in good spirits! 73 minutes on the clock and County are making use of the right wing this half, they cross in from the right again, a free header for Kyle Wootton… Justham can’t keep it out!! County have the lead again!! It’s 2-1!! Dagenham fans frustrated with that! Who was marking him!?
“I had a wheelbarrow! The wheel fell off! I had a wheelbarrow! The wheel fell off! COUNTY!” 83rd minute and Dagenham come forward now, played out wide to the left, it’s played into the middle for Ibrahim Akanbi who turns and shoots… Straight at the keeper! “Black & White army!” County fans hopeful now! 90th minute and Dagenham have a throw in on the right wing, it’s a long one into the box, headed away but only to George Saunders around 30 yards out and he’ll shoot… Great save by the County keeper!! Dagenham continue to press… The Referee blows for full time! Great win for County!!
FT: Notts County 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 7/10 – Both sets of fans did themselves proud on the night! It wasn’t bouncing loud due to the numbers but the Dagenham fans that were here kept on going and the Notts drum was banging for most of the game as well so brilliant from both sets of fans!
- The Ground: 9/10 – It’s fantastic for the level it’s at!! Definite Football League ground! Fit for the Championship borderline Premier League I’d say!! Lots of character and a big Kop stand!! Great ground which I hate to say as a Mansfield Town fan…
- Expense: 8/10 – A good competitive game I saw! £23 for this level is a bit much, but it was a good game!!
- Overall Experience: 8.5/10 – It was a crazy day today!! I still haven’t missed a Saturday since the lockdown and I was lucky today! I enjoyed meeting some of the Dagenham fans today who made my trip what it was!! I was happy to visit the ground again today and was happy to see a good game!! I would’ve loved to tick off Grimsby Town today but I didn’t let it spoil my day that I didn’t! That ground can wait for another day!
32.5/40 – It would’ve had to go a long way to be as good as last time!
Here is my first visit to Meadow Lane here