SHIPLEY'S FLEETING MOMENT

Notts County (H) - EFL League 2 - 16th August 2025

Farmers Gone Wild

For the second game in a row, it's hotter than an air-fried Findus Crispy Pancake inside Holker St. Almost makes you nostalgic for a bit of wind and rain. Almost. Rumours that Martin Paterson is a vampire are well and truly exorcised, as he steps out into the blistering sunlight and isn't immediately incinerated. And that's just tomato juice in his sports bottle. To continue the horror theme, I'm on about 4 hours' sleep, my mate 45 minutes after night shifts. It's Night of the Living Dead vs What We Do in the Shadows. Notts of course being in our shadow since we won promotion and they didn't. And who can forget that Stephenson tackle. We quietly get under each other's skin I think it's fair to say, without any proper needle.

Add them to the list of potential rivals in this, the quiet season. Tuesday night gave us reason to be optimistic coming into this one. We held our own and were unlucky not to get at least a draw *see previous report. Barrow get off to a brisk start, Mahoney testing the keeper within the first minute. He's added a bit of grit to his game alongside his undoubted ability with the ball and is laying claim to a regular start. We are knocking it around well, with Earing driving us forward and the team winning their duels all over the pitch.

Three defeats certainly haven't knocked our confidence. Despite our dominance we haven't created anything clear cut; is it going to be another blank? To various levels of hysteria, it's well documented and universally agreed that we need a goal scorer. But this is very much a new team, Whing's team. Maybe we already have one. We're only three games in, let's see what we've got eh, famously patient Barrow fans. Step forward Tyler Walker. Great work down the left from Barkhuizen sees him deliver a delicious low cross which would have been two yards behind Acquah last season.

This season, Walker is right on cue to slot the ball home, despite the valiant efforts of their keeper. Right place, right time and we're off! Finally! The relief is palpable. Notts have thus far been disappointing, you could say a shadow of their former selves. They do create a chance late in the half, a good low cross is met by, no one. Relatable frustration and a sign of our improvement. One nil is always a bit of a bum-twitcher and although we've looked increasingly solid at the back, you know the opposition are going to get a chance. That chance comes early in the second half when Lopenda is put through on goal. You always fancy Stanway in a one-on-one, however he can rest easy as Shipley makes good with his legs and launches into a great blocking challenge. A bit of pace in our defence? Yes please.

Notts are putting on the pressure now, we need something to break it up. Cue Stanway going down for a bit of treatment, he's learned from the best. Thank you Paul. On 77 minutes Matty Platt does us a solid, going off injured and sending Notts down to 10 men. Confession, I didn't even notice until I heard some bloke say it in the Tally Ho car park on the way home (see lack of sleep). I'd have left even more confident we could hold on. And I'd have been even more upset that we didn't when we contrived to concede an 89th-minute equaliser. Shipley beaten at the back post after a good cross so Dennis can win his header and find the top corner with Stanway given no chance. Ah well, I'd have taken a draw before kick-off, right? Frustrating to concede so late and we never get late winners, right?96 minutes of 96 minutes, we never score this late, right? Martin Paterson is not a vampire, Lewis Shipley puts a stake through his heart thrashing home the winner and he lived to berate the ref at the final whistle.

Beautiful. 

For the rest of us. Mayhem.

August / September 2025

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