Woodwork denies Notts County all three points

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Notts County and Dover Athletic continue their unbeaten runs following their goalless draw at Meadow Lane on Saturday afternoon.

It was a game that produced very few chances, but when the chances arrived they were important ones.

A misplaced cross for Bobby-Joe Taylor almost caught out Magpies’ keeper Sam Slocombe, but he was able to retrieve the ball, preventing a freakish goal.

Just before the interval, the hosts could have taken the lead. Former Birmingham striker Wes Thomas blocked attempt fell into the path of Kyle Wootton whose shot was brilliantly saved by White’s keeper Lee Worgan.

Two minutes after the break, a great through ball by County skipper Michael Doyle played in Thomas, but for the second time, his chance was denied, this time by Worgan.

Just after the hour and both sides could have taken the lead. Jack Osborne attempted to play in Thomas, however, his cross proved to be comfortable to Worgan. Then the other end, Notts’ inability to clear the ball allowed Dover’s top score Inih Effiong to play in Woods who was unable to convert.

There was a sense of deja vu within the last 10 minutes, a free-kick from Taylor almost beat Slocombe, he was able to tip over the crossbar.

But the biggest moment of the match undoubtedly came with the last kick of the game. A free-kick in the 97th minute from Enzio Baldewijn hit the post which means the visitors head back to Kent with a point.

The draw means Notts County drop to 6th in the National League, six points behind Yeovil. Dover on the other hand move up to 12th, but remain five points off the play-offs.

Neal Ardley was frustrated with his side’s performance this afternoon:

“Maybe we lacked a bit of zip but we had enough chances to get our noses in front,” said Ardley.

“We weren’t at our best but still created three or four good opportunities to win the game – we just didn’t take them.

“It wasn’t a fantastic game to watch but we defended balls into our box well, which is what you have to do.

“If we keep clean sheets we’ll always have a chance of winning games but the moments weren’t there today and it wasn’t to be.”

Andy Hessenthaler praised his team’s efforts today:

“The effort, the desire, everything that goes in a game of football, it was first class.”

“Coxy (Neil Cox, Notts County’s No.2) came up to me at the end of the game and said we deserved that bit of luck at the end from the effort we put in.”

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