Tuesday 14th February, 9:30pm

Brian O'Callaghan Celebrates His First Goal For The Club

Sub Ian Stonebridge's goal seconds after coming off the bench handed Wycombe their second win of 2006, both of which have come against ourselves. Ok, stats are nothing and points and performances are everything, and tonight there was a vast improvement in the Notts performance compared to the loss at Rushden on Saturday.

Brian O'Callaghan's goal early in the second half drew Notts level after Dean Bowditch had slotted the visitors ahead ten before the break. Notts looked lively and it set up a cracking second half, but the sub stunned the Magpies seconds after replacing Stefan Oakes with a thumping header into the back of the net.

It all started on a chilly evening with understandably an edgy atmosphere at the start of the game after the two straight losses and what had gone off at the end of the Rushden game with the players being booed off, but the Meadow Lane faithful got behind the players from the start and Notts did respond tonight to give a real battle, especially in the second period.

Notts began with three changes to the side that lined up on Saturday at Rushden. Daniel Chillingworth was handed his debut, while Lewis McMahon and Liam Needham came into the team in place of Sheridan, Scoffham and Martin, with only the latter in the sixteen.

Wycombe meanwhile began with Rob Lee, Stefan Oakes and Sergio Torres coming into the team from that which started at the weekend against Mansfield.

Early on Wycombe were showing the touches and movement of a top three side, with Mooney and Betsy looking dangerous, along with Dean Bowditch alongside Moooney. But, the first real chance was fashioned by Notts on the wonderful surface at Meadow Lane when Mike Edwards volleyed straight at Talia who made a routine save with the effort straight at him. Edwards met Needham's left-wing cross with a side-footed effort, as he searched for goal number five of the season.

At the other end, only a last gasp tackle by Baudet denied Torres after a memorising run from just inside the Notts half. He beat Pipe and Wilson and set off into the area, but the skipper was there to make a timely intervention.

Wycombe's first real chance came some ten or so minutes in when Bowditch got a foot to the ball and used his pace to beat O'Callaghan for pace, but his left-foot effort was dragged wide of Pilkington's post. Despite not really testing Pilkington early on, Wycombe's movement and passing was excellent. It created a number of good crossing positions and chances, but early on Notts were looking solid and O'Callaghan had to make two timely tackles to deny Bowditch, who was finding space well down the left-hand side of the attack. Oakes also went for one his specials to quieten down those giving the former Magpie some stick, but his effort was straight at Pilkington as Wycombe continued to look very lively.

Again on twenty-four he tested Pilkington again from a similar position, but this time with a low effort which the Notts stopper pushed away for a corner. When the corner was delivered it was met by Roger Johnson with a towering header, but luckily for Notts they survived the scare as Needham headed off the line. Within a minute Notts had had two close calls and were off the hook as Wycombe stepped it up a gear with some quick counter-attacks and passing football.

Lee Crooks Gets Stuck In Against Sergio Torres

But, on thirty-two Wycombe took the lead. Betsy broke after an excellent O'Callaghan cross was cleared. And, again they showed their ability by Besty finding Mooney he switched the play superbly with a first-time left-footed ball all the way over to Bowditch. The curl of the ball deceived the tracking O'Callaghan and goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington and Bowditch took advantage by taking touch and calmly slotting beyond Pilkington who raced out a few yards to narrow the angle in a last-ditch attempt. It was a sweet finish, and for their attacking play Wycombe probably deserved the goal, but in some ways Notts didn't deserve to fall behind for their solidarity at the back and willingness to have a go at such an impressive team as Wycombe. However, Gudjon will see the goal and point out how easily it could have been prevented.

Chillingworth had a shot blocked as Notts looked to respond, but Wycombe were showing they were no mugs at the back with some smart defending. When in tough positions, Wycombe knew how to work themselves away from danger, and were prepared to soak up the pressure and burst forward on the counter with ferocity.

Oakes could have made it 2-0 from twenty-five yards with a curling free-kick after a foul by Baudet. The former Notts man was certainly showing this evening he was not afraid to have a go at goal, and a deflection off the wall meant Pilkington was at full stretch to palm the ball away, but only back towards his own goal. He however did well to get back and claw the ball off the line via the post. It could have passed the line, who knows. The linesman was not totally level with the line having been ready to perhaps call offside for Oakes to float the ball into the area. Perhaps it was the stroke of luck Notts needed to get back in the game at that stage, and lift the crowd and players.

It did in some ways, with Notts having the next attack. Wycombe failed to clear a Pipe cross and McMahon picked up the pieces. He held off a Wycombe challenge to blast a left-foot effort at goal, but Talia was equal to the effort by palming the ball away and away from the onrushing Dadi and Chillingworth. David Pipe was from the resulting passage of play booked for a foul on Easton on the edge of the box, with play ended for two or so minutes while he received treatment.

Wycombe were showing in the first half just what a decent side they were this season. The passing and movement was excellent, but Notts had shown in spells they were able to match the visitors with their commitment and desire never in question.

The second half started with neither side making changes, and Notts got out of the blocks quickly to win a corner which was cleared by Senda. Again, on the break Betsy and Bowditch broke forward with pace but when playing the latter through, he was forced a little wide and the attack petered out. At the other end Notts put in some good crosses, but were unable to test Talia in the goal. But, Notts did force themselves level on fifty-four.

A foul on Dadi resulted in a free-kick which Baudet scuffed into the wall, but the ball found its way to Brian O'Callaghan who struck a low effort at goal which took a deflection off Williamson and deceived Talia and the ball nested into the back of the net. It was the former Republic of Ireland U-21 International's second goal of his career, and his first for the Club since joining in the summer from Icelandic club Keflavik.

The goal lifted everyone, and Notts continued to press. Chillingworth and Dadi linked up well to see the later provide McMahon with a chance to cross with Dadi only inches away from reaching the ball. Pipe also shot wide as the Magpies brimmed with confidence. He collected the ball after a challenge with Lee and burst towards the edge of the box, but fired wide. Wycombe were certainly not out of it by any means, and when they could broke forward quickly and efficiently. The crowd were lifted, and it made the game a completely different spectacle with O'Callaghan's goal just a little shocking the visitors, who of course were without Manager John Gorman as he cared for his wife, who is currently ill in hospital.

Wycombe on sixty-five replaced Sergio Toress with Russell Martin as they freshened things up in and end-to-end game of football. Pilkington then made a magnificent point-blank saved to deny Mooney from Betsy's cross, but sadly for him after a great save the flag was raised for offside against the former Watford and Birmingham City forward. A few minutes later, Chillingworth ended his Notts debut as he was replaced by Mark DeBolla. The loan signing looked lively in attack and made some intelligent runs, but having not played since September Thordarson could see his lack of match practise setting in and he threw on the non-contract forward to add more pace to the attack.

Notts looked like at the break they had been told to get move involved, they were looking smarter on the ball and using it a lot better. Crooks was controlling the midfield in terms of mopping things up and getting Notts going, while on his return to the starting XI for the first time since early January Lewis McMahon looked refreshed and impressive.

Wycombe retook the lead on seventy-five minutes with Ian Stonebridge scoring with his very first touch having only been on the field for around ten seconds or so. He had just replaced Stefan Oakes, and with his first touch of the ball he met a free-kick with a towering header, although in all fairness he was totally unmarked to head past Pilkington and stun the Meadow Lane crowd. Stonebridge scored here last season to hand Wycombe three points in a 1-0 win. It must just be something about Meadow Lane. The time was eventually set at just thirteen seconds after he entered the field of play.

On seventy-eight Noe Sissoko was handed his Notts County debut as Gudjon Thordarson replaced Mike Edwards, who in the process lost his record of having played every minute of every game this season. Sissoko slotted into the left-hand side of the centre midfield position. Patrick Vieira lookalike, he certainly added some height to the side. He was immediately involved with a throw heading his direction, and he put pressure on the Wycombe back line as the ball eventually fell to Baudet, but he blazed way, way over. Two minutes later Dadi was unable to get on the end of a ball into the area as he would have liked, and stretching for the ball he connected with little power and Talia saved. Senda then replaced Collins in defence for Wycombe, the man who scored against us a few weeks ago at the Causeway Stadium.

As time ticked by, Notts were getting perhaps a little frustrated after a resilient performance was providing them with nothing. Wycombe switched to 3-5-2 to combat Notts with five or so to go. Sissoko was robbed of the ball late on with Mooney and Betsy bursting forward in a two-on-one situation, but Mooney was a little too casual and Notts cleared their lines through Wilson.

Three minutes were added on at the end, but it wasn't enough for Notts as they fell to a third straight loss and their fourth at home this season. Crooks had an effort which went wide through a crowded penalty area, with the midfielder looking disappointed with his finish. McMahon was booked in injury time for a foul as the seconds ticked by, before Mr Wright blew his whistle to end proceedings.

Notts County: Pilkington, Pipe, Edwards (Sissoko), O'Callaghan, Baudet (C), Dadi, Crooks, Wilson, Needham, McMahon, Chillingworth (DeBolla).
Subs Not Used: Palmer, Martin, Marshall.
Booked: McMahon, Pipe.
Sent Off: None.

Wycombe Wanderers: Talia, Senda (Collins), Easton, Oakes (Stonebridge), Johnson (C), Williamson, Betsy, Lee, Torres (Martin), Mooney, Bowditch.
Subs Not Used: Williams, Anya.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.

Referee: Mr Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Attendance: 3,710 (301 Away)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Brian O'Callaghan