Saturday 10th February, 4:50pm

Close: David Pipe's Fine Volley Was Well Saved In The Second Half

Notts County claimed another point in their search for the playoff with a goalless draw at promotion chasers Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday afternoon, with both goalkeeper's in the headlines for fine saves to keep the score a 0-0 with David Pipe and Lawrie Dudfield seeing their efforts superbly saved in the second half for Notts.

Goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington made a number of fine stops in the first period, in particular from Jermaine Easter and Matt Bloomfield, while Jason Lee had a long-range effort saved by Jamie Young and moments before half-time he headed an Andy Parkinson centre wide of the far post.

After the home side enjoyed the better of the first period, it was the Magpies who enjoyed the better of the second period with Pipe and Dudfield denied by Jamie Young in the Wycombe goal who made two excellent stops.

Five points behind Wycombe before the start of play, the picture remains the same in the playoff chase following a very gritty and full of energy performance from Notts.

Notts were totally unchanged from the side which beat Lincoln last weekend, including on the bench, with Dan Martin again ruled out.

The Magpies, donning their all-yellow away kit, started well and tested the Wycombe rearguard early on.

Neither side were able to stamp their authority on the game in the opening stages and by the fifteen-minute mark one shot off target was the total for both sides with Bloomfield shooting wide for the home side followed by Jay Smith dragging an effort wide for Notts just before the quarter-hour mark.

On twenty-seven Tommy Mooney was presented with the best chance of the opening exchanges after Oakes delivered a quality ball into the box from the left from a dead-ball after a foul by Pipe, but despite finding himself unmarked the veteran frontman couldn't get any direction on the header and he glanced the effort wide of Pilkington's far post, who was fuming at the amount of room given to the Chairboys frontman.

Easter a few minutes later should really have given the home side the lead after Mooney robbed Edwards of the ball down the inside-right and provided a ball into the box which Easter found at his feet some ten yards out with only Pilkington to beat, but the goalkeeper made a fine first save of the game with an instinctive block at the expense of a corner.

Notts survived the set play with Somner clearing after Williamson had headed down for the home side, who were beginning to create more as the half progressed.

On thirty-one Bloomfield was played clean through on goal with just Pilkington to beat, but once again the Magpies goalkeeper was inspired form and he dived at the feet of the midfielder to make a fine block.

Pilkington was called into action tem minutes before the break once again, this time making a fine save from Golbourne who smashed a long-range effort at goal from all of thirty-yards with his left-foot but again found the Notts custodian in fine form as he dived across his goal to palm the effort behind for a corner.

Smith sliced an effort over for Notts at the end of the half and Jamie Young made his first save of the half just a few minutes before half time from Jason Lee; and had Notts gone ahead Wycombe would have been no doubt furious at the lead-up to the goal.

Defender Mike Williamson tried to see the ball out of play but was robbed by a combination of Dudfield and Pipe and the ball was worked towards Lee on the edge of the box but Young made a good stop low to his left to deny Notts' in-form striker.

Lee headed wide just before half-time after fine work by Parkinson and Dudfield, but the diving header from Lee was just wide of Young's far post.

Half-Time: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Notts County

Neither side opted to make changes at the break and Lee was again Notts' man to get a shot in at goal with the Magpies' first attempt of the second period with a low effort with his left foot which Young in the Wycombe goal gathered.

Notts were looking the better side coming up to the hour mark and taking the game to the home side; forcing corners and providing plenty of balls into the box.

The first change of the game was made by Notts just before the hour mark with Alan White on for midfielder Matt Somner, a change which saw Mike Edwards move into midfield.

David Pipe almost volleyed Notts ahead on the hour with Dudfield winning possession and laying the ball to Parkinson who picked out Pipe at the far post who met the ball with a right-foot volley, but from close range Young made a superb save to turn the ball over for a corner.

From the corner Wycombe broke with Doherty picking out Mooney down the inside-left, but when given time to fire at goal from an acute angle he flashed the effort well wide.

The Magpies were looking dangerous going forward with Lee and Dudfield enjoying plenty more of the ball in the second period while balls into the box were proving to be a real problem for the home side.

Against his former employers Chris Palmer also found the net in spectacular fashion on sixty-eight, but his shot after cutting inside from the left was just over Pilkington's bar.

Young was again called into action with twenty to go, this time he denied Lawrie Dudfield whose left-foot volley looked destined for the bottom corner. Lee flicked Pilkington's ball forward into the path of his strike partner who held off Williamson and fired at goal but the goalkeeper got down well to his right to block the effort.

Edwards fired wide with Notts looking by far the stronger outfit and certainly the most likely to score as the game progressed, although Bloomfield gave Notts a scare with another Wycombe effort from range with fifteen to go but he dragged the effort wide.

Late on Notts replaced David Pipe with Junior Mendes to introduce some fresh legs to proceedings as the rain began to fall at Adams Park.

Wycombe were able to put on the pressure late on with a succession of free-kicks awarded by Referee Mr Taylor, but once again Notts were solid and resolute in a bid to keep a first clean sheet in the League for almost two months.

Despite being under pressure in the first half Notts remained solid and composed and enjoyed good spells of pressure in the second half and could have taken the points had Pipe and Dudfield's efforts not been superbly saved.

Full Time: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Notts County

Wycombe Wanderers: Young, Martin, Golbourne, Williamson, Crooks, Palmer, Oakes, Doherty, Bloomfield (McParland 77), Mooney (C), Easter.
Subs Not Used: Christon, Gregory, Onibjue, McGleish.
Booked: Easter.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.

Notts County: Pilkington, Silk, Edwards, Hunt, McCann, Pipe (Mendes 83), Somner (White 58), Smith, Parkinson, Lee (C), Dudfield.
Subs Not Used: Deeney, N'Toya, Ross.
Booked: Pipe, Smith, Hunt, Parkinson.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.

Match Referee: Mr P Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 4,836 (331 Notts County Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Kevin Pilkington