Notts County suffered their second successive League Two defeat this afternoon at Wycombe Wanderers, with ten-man Notts going down 3-1 - despite drawing level through Richard Butcher in the second half after Paul Mayo had been sent off a minute into the second half.
A fairly chanceless first half saw both sides' best efforts come back off the woodwork with Scott McGleish for the home side and Hector Sam for the Magpies rattling the crossbar, but it was seconds in the second half that the major talking points took place.
Martin Bullock's goalbound run was halted by left-back Paul Mayo who brought the winger down in the box with just Pilkington to beat, and as a result the former Lincoln man was shown a red card and John Sutton slotted the resultant spot-kick home.
But, despite being down to ten-men Notts showed their magnificent never-say-die spirit by drawing level through Richard Butcher with twenty minutes to go after fine work by Hector Sam - but they were level for only a few minutes as experienced frontman Scott McGleish restored the Chairboys' advantage with a fine turn and finish and Matt Bloomfield added a third eight minutes from time for the home side.
Steve Thompson's starting line-up at kick-off saw one change to the team which faced Hereford in midweek with goalscorer from the bench Hector Sam starting in place of Andy Parkinson. The other goalscorer from the bench against the Bulls Gary Silk picked up a knock in training on Friday and did not travel with the team.
Both sides began the afternoon aiming to get back to winning ways after disappointing midweek defeats, while Notts were also in search of their first away win of the season after three draws and a defeat in their previous games.
The game began with the home side exerting the early pressure, but it took until the fifteenth minute for a serious effort to head towards Kevin Pilkington's goal. When an effort was forthcoming, it was might close as Scott McGleish turned well on the edge of the box to curl an effort past Pilkington, but fortunately the ball came back off the underside of the bar and eventually the ball was cleared as Notts survived an early scare.
At the other end MacKenize rasped in Notts' first effort of any note a minute later, but his long-range drive was gathered by Fielding on his home debut for the Chairboys after arriving on loan from Blackburn last week.
Torres and Bullock on the flanks were looking dangerous for the home side, and Torres took advantage of Canoville struggling with a hamstring injury for Notts on twenty-five minutes as he cut inside to beat the Notts right-back but his shot from just inside the box scraped the side netting.
Canoville had been struggling for a good few minutes with an injured left hamstring and Steve Thompson was forced into a change just before the half hour, with Austin McCann coming on in his place at right-back, an unfamiliar position for the Scotsman.
The first period wasn't littered with chances as both sides attempted to cancel each other out, but five minutes before the break came a great chance for the Magpies to take the lead. Neil MacKenzie's pin-point free-kick from the right was met by Hector Sam's header who powered the ball towards goal, but at the last minute Fielding managed to get a finger-tip to the ball and turn the ball onto his bar before the home side cleared the ball.
Efforts from Tann and MacKenzie before the end of the half brought Fielding into two routine stops, but certainly gave Notts plenty of plus-points to take into the second period.
Half-Time: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Notts County
The second period began in terrible circumstances for Notts, as just 70 seconds into the half the home side broke and Bullock found himself clear on goal, but Paul Mayo got back to put pressure on the attacker and eventually haul him down inside the box with Referee Mr Ward pointing straight to the spot and promptly dishing out a red card for the Magpies defender.
Striker John Sutton took the penalty for the home side and calmly slotted the ball into the net and sent Pilkington the wrong way as a result, leaving Notts with it all to do with only ten men.
It meant some reorganising for the Magpies with Dudfield dropping back to midfield, Somner to right-back and McCann over to left-back, and while Notts were still settling down the home side almost doubled their lead as Russell Martin's long-range drive struck Pilkington's far post and then John Sutton's rebound from a few yards was poked wide by the Chairboys' goalscorer.
Notts hadn't given up hope of getting something out of the game and continued to push forwards in search of a goal with Dudfield having a shot well blocked while Jason Lee's smart turn and shot on the edge of the box provided a good save from Fielding at his near post.
Fielding had to be alert to just beat Jason Lee to Matt Somner's deep cross just after the hour, and when the rebound effort fell to Richard Butcher it seemed he would be odds on to score with Fielding on the ground, but just as Butcher fired his effort towards goal a Wycombe defender got a fine block in and Notts' chance went begging.
Butcher didn't have to wait long though for his next chance and this time he was in no mood for missing the opportunity as Hector Sam down the left sprung the offside trap and advanced into the box where he found Butcher unmarked twelve yards out and he sidefooted the ball into the net to send the Magpies fans and squad wild.
However their joy was shortlived as Scott McGleish put the home side back in front a few minutes later with a smart turn and shot on the edge of the box, and it was particularly unfortunate on the Magpies who had fought so hard a man down to draw level.
Despite being down to ten men it wasn't showing as Notts continued to battle, scrap and remain in the game, but the home side weren't going to allow Notts a way back into the game like they had earlier in the half and sub Matt Bloomfield made sure of that with eight minutes to go as he found room in the box and coolly slotted the ball away to put the game out of Notts' reach.
A second straight defeat maybe, but that doesn't tell the whole story. An even first-half saw Notts more than a match for the home side, but Mayo's red card swung the pendulum well and truly in Wycombe's favour. Despite that Notts continued to give their all, battle and never throw in the towel and that great team spirit showed as they drew level through Richard Butcher.
Ultimately Notts haven't claimed any points out of their last two games, but if they continue to put in this sort of commitment in the results will come too. It was never going to be easy coming to Adams Park before kick-off, but have to do it with ten men was doubly difficult for Notts.
Wycombe Wanderers: Fielding, Martin, Johnson, McCracken (C), Oakes (Bloomfield 70), Bullock, Torres (Boucaud 87), Stockley, Holt, Sutton (Reid 81), McGleish.
Subs Not Used: Williams, Kazimierczak.
Booked: McCracken, Oakes.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Sutton (48 - Pen), McGleish (71), Bloomfield (82).
Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville (McCann 28), Tann, Hunt, Mayo, Somner, MacKenzie, Butcher, Sam (Weir-Daley 70), Lee (C) (Parkinson 80), Dudfield.
Subs Not Used: Sandercombe, R Austin.
Booked: Somner.
Sent Off: Mayo.
Goals: Butcher (68).
Match Referee: Mr G Ward
Attendance: 4,195 (230 Notts County Fans)
nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Matt Somner
