Match ends, Stevenage 0, Notts County 1.
StevenageStevenage0Notts CountyNotts County1
Callum Ball's strike proved pivotal as Notts County beat bottom club Stevenage and climbed out of the League One relegation zone.
Shaun Derry's side took the lead just before the break when Ball drove home through a crowded penalty area.
Magpies keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was on song, denying Francois Zoko and Felipe Morais early on and foiling Lucas Akin on several occasions.
Ball, a first-half sub, was denied a second goal by home keeper Chris Day,
County, who maintained their unbeaten start to 2014, are now two points above the bottom four.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Stevenage manager Graham Westley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I don't think that, if you saw the game on chances and took their goal away, you would think it was an away win.
"It was a decent overall performance from us I thought. The lads picked up where they left off the other night showed a positive spirit, positive momentum and I think they deserved a lot more than they got today.
"The ball dropped to Fil [Morais] and he sliced the clearance. There was not enough urgency to pick up the seconds. I think Michael [Doughty] had half turned his back on the lad, assuming Fil was going to clear it. The ball dropped between Peter [Hartley] and Michael, and their boy put it in."
"It happens sometimes. I think we came and took the game to them in the second half, for long periods they were pinned in. Fil coming off was a body blow to us, he'd been influential."
Line-ups
Stevenage
Formation 4-4-2
- 16Day
- 20Smith
- 29Hartley
- 14HeslopBooked at 15minsSubstituted forTounkaraat 83'minutes
- 5Ashton
- 6Jones
- 7MoraisSubstituted forCharlesat 63'minutes
- 24Doughty
- 11Akins
- 12ZokoBooked at 74minsSubstituted forAndradeat 74'minutes
- 15Freeman
Substitutes
- 2Wedgbury
- 9Charles
- 10Burrow
- 21Tounkara
- 25Andrade
- 26Smith
- 27Johnson
Notts County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Bialkowski
- 3SheehanBooked at 87mins
- 19Murray
- 22Fotheringham
- 5Smith
- 6Leacock
- 7GrealishSubstituted forBallat 38'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 28Boucaud
- 9Showunmi
- 24Freeman
- 20Campbell-Ryce
Substitutes
- 10Haynes
- 21Thompson
- 25Tempest
- 26Hollis
- 35Pilkington
- 37Bishop
- 38Ball
- Referee:
- Mark Haywood
- Attendance:
- 2,877
Match Stats
Home TeamStevenageAway TeamNotts County
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Stevenage 0, Notts County 1.
Booking
Callum Ball (Notts County) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Jimmy Smith (Stevenage) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Callum Ball (Notts County).
Booking
Ronan Murray (Notts County) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Bruno Andrade (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ronan Murray (Notts County).
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Jones (Stevenage) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Kieran Freeman.
Post update
Hand ball by Jimmy Smith (Stevenage).
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Oumare Tounkara replaces Simon Heslop.
Post update
Bruno Andrade (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Notts County).
Post update
Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Jon Ashton.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Andre Boucaud (Notts County) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lucas Akins (Stevenage) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Stevenage. Bruno Andrade replaces Francois Zoko.
Booking
Francois Zoko (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Andre Boucaud (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
