Davies Delight!

Notts County were going up to Lancashire with three wins in five games, and Preston who have two wins in five.

The game started off with Preston earning an early free kick right on the edge of the area, which drawn County keeper Pilkington into a smart save from Gallagher’s effort heading for the bottom left corner.

Within the first ten minutes, both sides were getting shots on goal and trying to grab an early lead, with Notts County’s top scorer McGregor testing Rudd from twenty-five yards out and new loan signing Davies trying to get a debut goal but Pilkington was on form today.

Campbell-Ryce was working hard and cutting inside the North End box for County and taking the line of regular counter attacks from the visitors, with boos around Deepdale every time his foot touches the ball.

North End then were through on goal, with Joe Garner getting ahead of his man and being very unlucky to see his headed effort being flicked just wide of the of the right hand post.

Half time was coming close and Pilkington was being drawn into non-stop saves, being tested by Gallagher with a deflected shot and deadline day Davies seeing an outside of the foot shoot being smothered.

There was only one minute to be added on before the break.

In the second half, there was no changes to teams or the teams style of play, both sides were getting shots in and attacking fairly well.

Preston earned a corner, which Holmes took and the out swinging corner was in reach for Davies who got his head to the ball and it was goal-wards but Roberts was on the line for County to deny them from going a goal down.

Minutes after, Garner was again through on goal as he got away from Roberts who prevented Davies’ header going in, and Garner’s effort was straight at the legs of the Notts County keeper, and then minutes later the veteran was called into action again by saving a curling effort from Gallagher and then tipping Holmes’ shot over the bar, a great day for the veteran.

Gallagher had an effort on goal and earned his side a corner, which didn’t involve thirty-nine year old Pilkington making a save, as Gallagher’s shot was deflected into the side netting.

The corner was whipped into the box and this time, Garner got his head to it and directed it towards goal, but again, it was cleared off the line!

Somehow it remained 0-0, but not for long as new loan signing Davies got into the area with the ball and put his boot through it and this time Pilkington was well beaten as Preston took the lead.

County then felt a change was necessary, Fotheringham and Showunmi made way for Appiah and Mullins.

Davies then had possession and did what he did to give the Lilywhites the lead earlier on, he made an ambitious run into the box and was fouled in the area.

Referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot and the Notts County players protested.

Garner looked set to take and the former Watford man doubled Preston’s lead by converting and beating the in-form Pilkington with Garner’s bullet of a shot in the top left hand corner out of his reach.

Straight after Garner extended the lead he almost extended it again after Wiseman’s cross met his head but only for the ball to sail over the bar.

Davies then made his way off the pitch as Grayson replaced him for Hume.

Good signing Davies, being involved in both goals, scoring one and earning the penalty.

There was also another change which saw Gallagher for Humphrey to make his one-hundredth Football League appearance.

Ten minutes remained and Notts County were starting to dominate the game and create chances, Appiah beat the Preston’s offside trap but his shot was fired across goal and out for a North End goal kick.

That was it, the Lilywhites won the game 2-0 and are doing as well as they can to close the gap on Leyton Orient and Wolves, but there is a long way to go!