In the latest of his regular columns, Hillary Street-Ender takes a look at this weekend's Sky Bet League One trip to Notts County, including a look back at last season's 5-1 demolition of the Magpies.
Saturday’s trip to Meadow lane to face Notts
County will inevitably bring back memories of last season’s trip and that fantastic
five-one demolition of the home side, in a match where we should have doubled
our tally and would have done if not for some wasteful finishing and the
inspired second half showing from the ‘Pies keeper. It was, of course, one of
those occasional freaky games where everything we tried came off as the home
back four went absent without leave for the duration. That game will live long
in the memory of any Saddler in attendance mainly due to the devastating
performance from Febian Brandy. So dominant was he that he completed a
hat-trick before half-time and a perfect one it was with his initial strike
coming as he rolled the ball, left-footed, into the empty net having rounded
the keeper, his second coming when he thrashed a right footer over the keeper and
under the bar and the third being headed just inside the post with the
half-time whistle about to sound. Any defence that allows Feb, of all people,
to score with a header really does deserve a heavy defeat. The game was over,
effectively, when the players left the field for their tea and orange segments with
any remaining uncrossed Ts taken care of in the early minutes of the second
period as goals from Butler and Westcarr duly arrived. So impressive was
Brandy’s performance that afternoon that many of the County fans in the main
stand applauded as he left the field to be substituted, partly in appreciation
of the fact that a performance of such dominance is a rare thing and partly in
relief that their torture might be over. In summation; they had a wheelbarrow, and
the wheel had fallen off. The fact that this was the little fella’s last real
hurrah in our colours shouldn’t detract from memories of a glorious afternoon
even though, just for a moment, all things seemed possible for us but, as
usual, didn’t pan out well. Thanks for the memories, though, Feb……. We can’t
really expect a repeat of that score-line but a similar result would be very
welcome, especially when considering Notts’ recent good form. We’ve come away
with all three points on our last two visits so the players can go into the
game knowing that Meadow Lane need hold no fears.
Last Saturday’s victory over Chesterfield eased
supporters’ concerns a fair bit but it’s a source of concern that we’re so
reliant on Tommy Bradders when it comes to bringing home the bacon. We look so
much more likely to score with him in the side and such has been the standard
of his finishing so far that it seems a bit odd that he’s not operating at a
higher level. From my seat in the Upper Gilbert he looked very close to being
offside as he tucked away the game’s only goal but the ball ended up in the net
via a classy touch from our leading scorer so I’m certainly not going to
quibble. It really ought to have been his second strike of the game following
that close range header in the first half when he looked odds-on to score only
for the ball to loop harmlessly to the Spireites’ keeper but that one goal
proved to be enough to bring home the points and lift us back above the trap
door, meaning we could all feel slightly more contented as we awaited Monday’s
FA Cup draw. I wouldn’t have minded being drawn away to Weston Super Mare but a
home draw is always welcome, with the news that we’ll again face Salop drawing
a groan from both sets of fans. Thoughts will revert to last season, and the
fact that we beat them three times without conceding any goals might give rise
to a feeling of complacency among fans but this game will be no foregone
conclusion given the way the Shrews pushed Chelsea all the way in the League
Cup just a few days ago. Another competition to give us a home draw is the
Paint Pot in which we’ll entertain Clough Junior’s stuttering Blades who are,
it seems to me, absolutely nothing to be afraid of. We’re going to be on the
telly for this game so let’s hope the lads can put on the sort of showing we
laid on last time we were on the box, against Posh at the beginning of the
year.
By: Hillary Street-Ender.