DESPITE being a pre match injury worry Nick Fenton continued in defence alongside Justin Whittle.

Danny North made way for Gary Jones as the Mariners started with their customary 4-5-1 away formation.

Although Alan Buckley had said that any players who hint that their futures lie away from Blundell Park would not play, the Town boss did tell Mariners World that would not happen this week, and not until he had been able to gauge more feedback from some of his out of contract players.

It was a game of two halves with the Mariners dominating the first half and County coming out and taking control of the second period.

The Mariners could have been at least two goals to the good going into the break but would they be made to pay in the second half? The answer is yes.

With just five minutes on the clock Town showed their intentions. Former Magpie Paul Bolland broke into the home side's box but the final pass for Toner lacked pace and the chance was lost.

Town were playing well and a good move down the right saw McDermott find Jones but the big frontman's shot was blocked and trickled through top the keeper.

Town won a succession of corners, and from the second of these, Fenton rose above the County defence and head goalwards, only to see his effort cleared off the line by a County defender.

Another inswinging corner found Fenton again who headed the ball across the danger area but it was cleared before it could reach Whittle waiting at the far post.

Half-Time: Notts County 0 Town 0

Former Town striker Andy Parkinson replaced the ineffective N'Toya at the break.

Straight from the start the home side caused Town problems as Barnes got down well to save from Smith.

Soon after Jason Lee had a good chance but the former Town loanee striker miss-hit his shot across the Town box.

Would the Mariners be made to rue their first half domination and missed chances?

The answer came just 7 minutes into the second half as they took the lead.

A ball across the face of the Town goal was headed on by Lee and Tom Newey sliced the ball past Barnes and into the goal.

County continued to take the game to Town and Jason Lee brought a good save from Barnes from a goal-bound volley.

On 59 minutes Newey had chance to redeem himself for his own goal, but Town's left back fired just wide of Pilkington's right-hand post after good work by Toner.

The Magpies almost made it 2-0 minutes later. Fenton fouled Dudfield on the right, and from the resulting free-kick, Lee's powerful header was well stopped by Barnes again. 

Fenton, Till and Toner made way for Taylor, North and Bloomer as Town tried to get something out of the game.

It was a much improved second half performance by the home side and they wrapped it up on 86 minutes.

From a Town free-kick in the County half, with Town pushing up for an equaliser, Parkinson beat McDermott for pace, squared the ball for Smith, his first effort was well saved by Barnes. Unfortunately for the Town keeper, went straight back to Smith to make no mistake with his second attempt. .