Notts County claimed their first win since the start of February on Saturday afternoon at Bury thanks to a really gritty and determined performance by the Magpies, and Tcham N'Toya's first league goal of the season was enough to bag the points for Notts.  Steve Thompson had called on his players to really dig in and show their battling qualities and that they really did want to play for the club in his pre-match comments, and his players did exactly that by digging in, battling for every ball and putting a really dogged performance.

Goals have been short in supply at Meadow Lane of late, so it was made for a player not regularly on the scoresheet to break the duck of three games without a goal, and it was N'Toya who notched just before the break following a corner. He was quickest to react to Ian Ross' corner being flicked on, and he managed to force the ball home for a vital Magpies goal.  Notts made changes to the side following the defeat at Bristol Rovers last Saturday with Steve Thompson opting for a attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Jason Lee back after suspension and Matt Somner returning to the side in midfield.

Kevin Pilkington was also back in goal in place of Saul Deeney after a few weeks out; with Thompson ringing the changes with four changes and aiming for a turn in fortunes after seven games without a win and three games without a goal.  Jay Smith was missing due to injury, meaning a return to the starting XI for Ian Ross.

The game began in frenetic fashion with both sides chucking balls into the box early, and the first chance fell to Notts on five minutes as Gary Silk volleyed wide with his left-foot following a corner. Not his strongest foot, Silk had no option but to hit the effort with his left and he narrowly off target.  Lee headed over as Notts, donning their all-yellow away strip began brightly, with Ian Ross providing a telling cross onto the head of Lee.

Jason Lee made an excellent block to deny Kempson for the home side with their first chance, also following a corner with the Magpies skipper sticking out a leg to make a vital block to deny Kempson who really put everything into the shot and it was flying at some force towards the goal.  Lawrie Dudfield almost hit his first goal in seven games on twenty-six minutes with a ball down the right into his path, and despite holding off a defender to advance into the box the angle was always against the striker and when he did get his shot in he hit the side netting.

Pilkington made a superb stop on thirty-three to deny Bury new-boy William Mocquet a stunning opener two days after signing on loan from Championship side Sunderland; showing excellent reactions on his return to the side. He had to dive across to his right to get a strong hand to the Frenchman's long-range drive, which bobbled away for a corner which Notts dealt with well.  After Hurst had poked towards goal with no real power five minutes before the break, Notts burst forward to earn themselves a corner to score their first goal in a month - and it was Tcham N'Toya the man on target with his second goal of the season finishing from close-range from Ian Ross' corner.

Ross delivered towards the penalty spot and Somner helped the ball towards goal, and N'Toya did the rest from a few yards out forcing the ball past Warrington in the Bury goal. It was Notts' first goal in three-and-a-half games, and N'Toya celebrated as he did with his only other Notts goal back in September at Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup with a back-flip, to the delight of the away faithful and Magpies players.  Bury did push to get a goal before the break to get back onto level terms, but Notts held firm at the back and gave little away ensuring they were in the lead at the break with a gritty, dogged and battling performance.

Half-Time: Bury 0-1 Notts County

Neither side made changes at the break, and instantly Notts created the first chance of the half with N'Toya clearly keen to add to his first League goal of the season and he fired in a left-foot shot from the edge of the box which Warrington got down to only a minute into the second period.  Notts were holding their own once again at the start of the second half, putting their feet in when it really mattered and if a ball needed banging out of play, it was banged out of play.

Pilkington displayed the real never-say-die attitude when he shot off his line to dive at the feet of Kempson after a number of crosses were cleared by Notts the ball fell to Kennedy on the edge of the box who backheeled the ball through to Kempson on goal, and Pilkington was quick off his line to dive bravely at the feet of the Shakers player - who required some treatment before the game got underway again.  Bodies were again in the way as Hurst's powerful drive was blocked by Edwards, with Bury enjoying a good spell of possession around the hour mark but with little in terms of efforts on goal to test Pilkington in the Notts goal. Notts were happy and also able to soak up the pressure, and then with three players in attack with different qualities they were able to hit the home side on the break.

Pilkington was forced into his first real save of the half with fifteen to go, and even then it was a routine easy save with Tom Kennedy crossing and Jason Kennedy heading at goal, but Pilkington easily gathered the ball.  N'Toya was replaced by Andy Parkinson with fifteen to go, and he made an instant impact by putting Tom Kennedy under pressure and winning the ball from the Bury defender which allowed him to release Dudfield forward and into the right-hand edge of the box to unleash a powerful drive with was pushed away for a corner.

Lee then headed wide from a Ross cross as the time ticked away, and after a run which last saw Bury record a win in December - the home fans were quick to show their disappointment towards Manager Chris Casper with one fan in particular having a real shout at the Bury boss from the stands.  After Bury's initial spell of fifteen minutes worth of pressure, it was Notts looking stronger as the game approached its conclusion. Bury were giving away needless free-kicks and getting caught offside, and were unable to really test Pilkington all afternoon.

Parkinson could have rounded things off in the first minute of stoppage time, but after Dudfield sent the attacker on goal he fired just over the bar.  This game wasn't a classic by any means, but most important for Notts was the three much needed points. After seven games without a win and lack of goals of late it has been a testing time for the squad, but they showed their true colours with grit, determination and passion to get the win this afternoon.

Full Time: Bury 0-1 Notts County

As reported by the Official Notts County Web Site