A meeting of minds involving Notts County’s attacking players turned out to be a crucial factor in their stunning 3-0 win at Stevenage on Saturday.
The Magpies breathed new life into their bid for League Two safety after a rampant first half display saw them put Stevenage to the sword and move level on points with Yeovil just outside the bottom two.
Enzio Boldewijn netted a fine third for Neal Ardley’s men just before the break to cap the 3-0 win, and the Dutchman revealed that a meeting in the build-up to the game between their forward-thinking players certainly had a positive impact.
“The attacking players sat down this week and agreed we need to have more shots on goal and get into the box more,” he said.
Notts were rampant in the first half at the Lamex Stadium, setting about their hosts from the off, with Jim O’Brien’s deflected 25-yard effort finding the back of the net inside the opening 40 seconds to give the visitors the perfect start.
It was two on 21 minutes when O’Brien’s pass found Kane Hemmings to double the lead, before Boldewijn’s smart finish on the stroke of the interval proved to be the killer blow and seal a breath-taking victory.
Their punchy attacking play was rewarded in the opening 45 minutes, and a clear tactic from Ardley to be more positive in the final third, given the attacking talent at their disposal, proved a masterstroke.
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“I think at every opportunity, we had two or three players inside the box trying to score a goal, and I think that’s important,” said the 26-year-old.
“We know the guys in midfield and defence will do the dirty work but we have to push for goals, and I think that went very well today.”
After successive games without scoring a goal, Boldewijn admits he and the Notts dressing room were acutely aware that the time for talking had passed, and it was about producing the goods on the pitch, with the Magpies beginning to enter the last chance saloon.
“Everyone knows we haven’t scored enough in recent weeks – but talking only does so much, you have to back it up on the pitch, I think it was a good reaction.”
Notts’ win in Hertfordshire, coupled with Yeovil’s home defeat to Newport meant they moved off the bottom of the Football League and level on points with the Glovers, with only goal difference keeping them in the drop zone.
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With both clubs now level on 36 points and six games remaining, there is greater light at the end of what appeared to be a very dark tunnel.
A home clash with mid-table Northampton on Saturday will present County with the chance to exit the relegation zone, though Boldewijn is acutely aware that the job is far from complete - this was merely a positive step forward and a vital one at that.
“We’re buzzing with the win but we all know we’re not there yet and there’s still a lot of work to do.
“We’ll all be working hard to make sure we stay up.”
