06/09/2008 - Notts v Bournemouth full time 1-1
A FIRST league goal on home soil for Jamie Forrester was not enough to inspire a first league victory of the season for Notts County against Bournemouth today.
Instead, Ian McParland’s side were forced to settle for their fourth successive draw in League Two, with a 1-1 score-line against the Cherries.
Richard Butcher almost gave the Magpies a dream start, but directed a tame effort straight to the visitors’ keeper Shwan Jalal from inside the penalty area on three minutes.
Forrester broke the deadlock on 12 minutes, volleying past Jalal and inside the far post after Jay Smith had cleverly lifted the ball into his path inside the penalty area on the left.
But the Cherries were level just seven minutes later as striker Brett Pitman side-footed under Russell Hoult at the far post from Scott Wagstaff’s right-wing cross.
Notts stirred and it took a great save from Jalal to deny Myles Weston just before the half-hour mark, after the winger burst on to the loose ball and unleashed a powerful effort at goal from inside the penalty area.
The Magpies were the first to threaten in the second half, and Paul Mayo dragged a shot wide of the far post after bursting on to a pass from Forrester on 52 minutes.
Two minutes later, Darren Anderton curled a free-kick to the far post that Lee Bradbury volleyed crisply at goal but Hoult held well low down.
Notts began to pile the pressure on the visitors and Forrester played a ball dangerously across the face of goal on 58 minutes that was uneasily cleared and a minute later Weston beat Bradbury on the left and lifted a cross to the far post that Danny Hollands headed clear under pressure from Mike Edwards.
Edwards then met a long throw-in from Mayo on 63 minutes, but his header just eluded Forrester and went harmlessly out for a goal-kick.
The Magpies’ defender was involved again minutes later, and it took a wonder save from Jalal to deny him as he controlled Matt Hamshaw’s free-kick at the far post and fired a powerful shot at goal
Notts attacked and Anderton cleared a header from Butcher off the goal-line minutes later after Edwards had headed Hamshaw’s corner back across goal.
Wagstaff was booked for diving in the penalty area under a challenge from Smith on 76 minutes, and then Bradbury was cautioned for blocking Weston as he tried to raid down the left wing.
Michael Johnson was forced off with an injury in the closing minutes, with Adam Tann replacing him.
Forrester forced Jalal into a good save in the final minute, cutting inside from the right and rifling a low effort at goal from the edge of the penalty area. But that was the closest Notts came to snatching victory.
NOTTS: Hoult, Beardsley, Edwards, Johnson, Mayo, Hamshaw, Butcher, Smith, Weston, Facey, Forrester. Subs: Pilkington, Tann (for Johnson, 86), MacKenzie, Fairclough, Canham.
BOURNEMOUTH: Jalal, Bradbury, Cooper, Pearce, Cummings, Wagstaff, Igoe, Anderton, Hollands, Goulding, Pitman. Subs: Pryce, Bartley (for Igoe, 85), Ward, McQuoid (for Goulding, 60), Sappleton.
ATTENDANCE: 4,362 (318 away).