Notts County fell to their second successive defeat in League Two this afternoon as Lincoln City defeated Ian McParland's side 2-1 at Sincil Bank.
Both sides came close to opening the scoring in an end-to-end first period, but it was the home side who drew first blood a minute before the break as Ben Wright forced the ball home from a few yards out.
Notts responded five minutes into the second period as Gary Silk thundered home a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area, and that set the tone for an entertaining second period.
After chances at both ends Lee Frecklington restored the home sides' lead fifteen minutes from time, breaking into the penalty area and firing a low shot past Kevin Pilkington - and 2-1 was how it stayed.
Ian McParland made four changes to his Magpies side which faced Macclesfield last Saturday, with Neil MacKenzie back after his hernia operation a mere eleven days after going under the knife - and he was straight into the starting line-up in place of Matt Somner.
Also coming into the side were Hector Sam, Myles Weston and Stephen Hunt in place of Craig Lindfield, Andy Parkinson and Krystian Pearce. Lindfield and Pearce dropped to the bench, while Parkinson was ruled out with a groin injury sustained in the defeat to Macclesfield.
Lincoln were again without ex-Notts frontman Mark Stallard, and were hoping for a change of luck after a miserable run of form which saw then go into the game without a win since the end of August.
On a bitterly cold November afternoon in Lincolnshire with a strong wind in full force, and the home side started the game brightly with a cross from right-back Paul Green finding the head of Ben Wright in the six-yard box, but after outjumping Hunt to win the header his effort was over Pilkington's crossbar.
The pressure was piled on the by home side in the opening stages with Louis Dodds twice firing long-range efforts straight at Kevin Pilkington, while Owain Warlow fizzed a left-foot drive just wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Stephen Hunt had to be on hand to spare Pilkington's blushes on eight minutes as a poor clearance from the Notts goalkeeper way out of his goal fell at the feet of Green on the halfway line with the goal gaping - but the centre-back was on hand to clear the effort off the line with plenty of time to get back in position and be able to clear the ball away.
The message was clear from new Imps boss Peter Jackson, who wanted an early goal from his side to lift the team and crowd given their poor run of form so far this season, and they were responding by putting the solid Notts backline under pressure - but the Magpies defence were putting bodies on the line and winning headers to ensure the home side didn't have it all their own way.
After the initial early promise from the home side, Notts came into the game after weathering the early ten-minute storm - and Hector Sam almost netted his third of the season on twenty minutes but after turning his man on the edge of the box he dragged his left-foot effort wide of Smith's goal. Getting the ball to feet, passing and moving, Notts were looking comfortable and composed.
Richard Butcher almost netted his seventh of the campaign on twenty-three minutes, but after advancing towards the penalty area from the right after a fine ball from Myles Weston his shot was straight at Smith with a deflection taking the sting out of the shot.
On the half-hour, after another spell of Lincoln pressure of throwing balls into the Notts box, the Imps came close to taking the lead from a set-play. A free-kick on the edge of the box was awarded after a foul by Tann, and Warlow's thunderous free-kick fizzed just wide of Pilkington's right-hand post with a number of home fans off their seats convinced the ball had hit the net.
With a minute to go in the first period the Imps opened the scoring through Ben Wright, who had be presented with a handful of half-chances earlier the half, and he made no mistake as a free-kick Green found its way to the striker in the six yard box and he fired the ball into the net despite Pilkington getting his body in the way the ball hit the back of the net.
With only a minute of added time Notts were unable to reply before the half-time whistle, leaving the Magpies knowing they were in for a real battle to come back from behind if they were going to take anything from the game.
Half-Time: Lincoln City 1-0 Notts County
Kevin Pilkington was called into action straight away in the second half, but as the Imps caught Notts out on the break he stood firm and made a low save from Louis Dodds who got his shot away from the right-hand side of the penalty area. It was a real chance to put the game to bed for the home side.
Dodds was made to rue that miss minutes later as five minutes into the second period Notts drew level in superb fashion. A loose ball some twenty-five yards out fell perfectly to Gary Silk, and he simply let fly with a tremendous right-foot effort which flashed beyond Smith and into the top corner of the net. A simply superb strike by the defender-turned-midfielder who has been impressive in recent weeks.
MacKenzie almost marked his return from injury moments later with a goal, but his free-kick from the edge of the area was just over the crossbar as Notts piled on the pressure. Silk's goal quickly saw the optimism and buzz around Sincil Bank disappear.
Dudfield almost added to that misery on the hour, but after turning his man well on the edge of the box to get a low shot in at goal with his right foot he could only fire the ball straight at Smith.
Notts had to be cautious that Lincoln looked impressive on the break, and a few minutes later they almost got caught out as Frecklington broke one-against-one, but Canoville stood up well and eventually blocked the midfielder's shot.
Hector Sam came close moments later following another good Magpies passing move, but via a deflection his powerful low drive was just off target. After Dudfield had initially had a shot blocked from Canoville's neat through ball the ball fell perfectly to Sam, but he was just off target. A few minutes later he used his neat footwork to create an opportunity for himself of the edge of the box, but he shot straight at Smith.
The Imps took the lead once again fifteen minutes from the end as Frecklington broke in to the area, and he fired a low drive under Pilkington to lift the home crowd once again as they sensed a first win since August.
McParland aimed to freshen things up in the final ten minutes and he sent on Spencer Weir-Daley in place of Hector Sam in attack, but the Magpies were unable to break the home side down as they ran down the clock to earn their first win under new boss Peter Jackson.
Notts showed their gritty and determined side as they responded perfectly to falling behind. Once getting the ball down and passing the ball crisply as Ian McParland has demanded, it is clear to see Notts can be a force to be reckoned with - but ultimately two poor goals to concede cost Notts dearly.
The Magpies boss has demanded a positive frame of mind at the Club, and that will be key now as Notts go into next Saturday's FA Cup Second Round home tie with Havant & Waterloovile at Meadow Lane.
Lincoln City: Smith, Green, Moses, Hone, Croft, Frecklington, Kerr, Forrester, Warlow (N'Guessan 70), Wright, Dodds.
Subs Not Used: Hand, John-Lewis, Bencherif, Marriott.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Wright (44), Frecklington (75).
Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville, Tann (C), Hunt, Mayo, Butcher, MacKenzie, Silk, Weston, Dudfield, Sam (Weir-Daley 80).
Subs Not Used: Sandercombe, Lindfield, Pearce, Somner.
Booked: Tann.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Silk (50).
Match Referee: Mr P W Melin
Attendance: 4,543 (1,060 Notts County Fans)
nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Gary Silk
