Pies fans are no strangers to the refreshments available in the last chance saloon. Twice in the previous nine seasons their campaign has concluded on the last day and May 7th 2011 made a hat-trick.The Great Escape', 'Survival Saturday', call it what you will. It all adds up to the long walk down County Road, butterflies in the tum and the overwhelming sense of us having left it too late..again. This years poster star, new owner Ray Trew, urged on the fans and over 10,000 turned up on the day to see Notts attempt to stay in League One. The maths was simple. Two points advantage over Walsall and Dagenham meant a win would ensure safety. Otherwise we were dependent on one of them failing to take maximum points. Our opponents were the newly-crowned champions, Brighton and the heavy irony in the chants of 'Championeey' ringing around Meadow Lane, just a season after they had last done so in very different circumstances, was not lost on the County faithful. But this battle they knew well. The team were certainly not Dearden's turn-around kings, whose teriffic end of season run had pulled safety from almost certain relegation. Neither were they Thordarson's non-league journeymen who, rallied by David Pipe, had somehow salvaged a draw against Bury. The 2011 squad had stopped and started all season. On so many occasions they had been seemingly unable to score but now, under Martin 'Mad Dog' Allen,they were finally showing some free flowing football and the first sense of cohesion for a long while. The stage was set then, for another grand finale to another turbulent Notts County season.

To their credit, the side began well, showing some good spirit and excellent passing moves. Unfortunately, at the end of them, as usual, was nothing. Brighton, by comparison, with little to prove or play for, were content with the occasional forage forward and after one of those, a good move ended in them taking the lead with a well-struck drive. With not even Hughesy scoring regularly, the Pies could only watch the attack and wonder what it was like to have two good proven strikers leading from the front and a lot of confidence behind them. Their determination however, allowed them to come back at the league leaders and create a little confusion in the visitor's penalty area. Following a Westcarr cross, the ball was turned in by a defender. A great reward for pressure but a poignant comment that Notts' last goal of the season was scored for them. The 1-1 scoreline at half-time turned out to be the final result. Although pressing well in the second period, the home sides' inability to convert (or even put a shot on target) meant there was no reward for their efforts against the lacklustre champions. As, on a football pitch far, far away, Peterborough were putting five past Dagenham, the result of the Meadow Lane fixture became increasingly irrelevant. The final whistle left the Pies with a feeling of resurgent pride and hope for the future but surely a knowledge of how much would be required of a new team in the 150th anniversary year.

'Survival Saturday'

Notts V Brighton

7th May 2011

Relive High Noon Again !

A relieved crowd stay to cheer on the outgoing squad

The face of Notts - Mike Edwards appears on the balcony with the rest of the squad but no medals this year.

The job for next season - keeping numbers up for the next campaign