Notts County stunned in frantic 5-4 defeat at Colchester Rovers
The Magpies were always chasing in the game
Following on from their seven-goal battle at home to Forest Green Rovers, Notts County were stunned in a 5-4 defeat to Colchester United in another pulsating encounter.
The defeat ended an eight-game unbeaten run for the Magpies who were always chasing Colchester in the game after conceding the opening goal inside the first ten minutes. Notts dominated the possession again in the game but could not quell the home side’s attacking threat at any point in order to come away with anything from the contest.
The U’s took a 10th-minute lead through Noah Chilvers’ long-range shot, following Aidan Stone’s scuffed clearance, but County equalised in the 22nd minute when Sam Austin netted after goalkeeper Owen Goodman had denied Macaulay Langstaff.
Colchester edged ahead again in the 31st minute when Jayden Fevrier’s delivery deflected in off Magpies Richard Brindley and Arthur Read’s outstanding 20-yard free-kick seven minutes later made it 3-1.
Notts County reduced the deficit when Langstaff diverted home Cameron’s 48th-minute delivery. United restored a two-goal cushion in the 58th minute as Cameron McGeehan converted Joe Taylor’s pass.
Jodi Jones’ excellent top-corner strike in the 67th minute reduced the arrears but again Colchester responded, this time after just seven minutes as Read struck with a magnificent shot.
McGeehan was dismissed in the 79th minute following a second yellow card for dissent and Langstaff nodded in Jones’ cross in the second minute of stoppage time but Colchester held on.
Despite their great start to life back in the EFL, only a handful of teams in League Two have conceded more goals than Notts’ 19 so far after ten games, with eight of those coming in just the last two fixtures.
Manager Luke Williams credited the opposition’s quality in the attacking areas but admitted that the recent defensive slide is a concern after suffering just their second league defeat of the season so far.
He said: “The opposition were fantastic, a brilliant team. We didn’t deal well enough with the two strikers in the first half. But the game was very difficult because we gave a goal away from a lack of concentration.
“Because of this, we find it more difficult to build up because, understandably I think, the confidence is not the same when you make a mistake like that. The game is different after that but they just caused us no end of trouble.
“I think we cause them a lot of problems as well but it’s OK going toe to toe with a team but if you give them a goal start, it’s a different feeling from the sideline.
“When we thought we’d got ourselves back into the game we conceded more goals and it’s very, very difficult. I like the spirit we had but to concede so many goals is really worrying.”
Even after putting five goals past County on the afternoon, Colchester boss Ben Garner said his side should have had more against what he described as a “really good side”.
