2nd tier* League fixture
*Then known as Division Two

Notts County 3      Newcastle United 0
Regis 50, 75
Bartlett 71
 

Attendance:- 7,806
Weather:- Rain & Windy
Referee:- P. Taylor (Cheshunt)
Corners:- Notts 7 Newcastle 4
Goal attempts on target:- Notts 7 Newcastle 1
Goal attempts off target:- Notts 7 Newcastle 7
Bookings:- Harding (Notts) and Scott (Newcastle) both for fouls
 

Notts County
Colours:- Black and white striped shirts with yellow trim, Black shorts, White socks
League Position:- before match 8th/24, after match 7th/24
Manager:- Neil Warnock

1.   Steve Cherry
2.   Chris Short
3.   Paul Harding *
4.   Craig Short
5.   Charlie Palmer
6.   Don O'Riordan
7.   Dean Thomas
8.   Phil Turner
9.   Kevin Bartlett
10. Mark Draper
11. Dave Regis

Sub: Gary Chapman *78
Sub not used: Steve Davis
 

Newcastle United
Colours:- Yellow shirts, Green shorts, Green socks
League Position:- before match 14th/24, after match 16th/24
Manager:- Ossie Ardiles

1.   John Burridge
2.   Steve Watson
3.   Mark Stimson
4.   Roy Aitken
5.   Kevin Scott
6.   Bjorn Kristensen
7.   John Anderson *
8.   Gavin Peacock
9.   Micky Quinn
10. Mark McGhee +
11. Kevin Brock

Sub: Lee Clark *55
Sub: Andy Hunt +57

Video of the match:- A Central TV camera recorded the match for a goals report.
 

Nottingham Evening Post Reports

REGIS DOUBLE SPURS COUNTY
DAVID HIT’S THE GOAL TRAIL
By David Stapleton

AT no time since their arrivals from non-league Barnet last September had David Regis and Paul Harding made a greater combined impact than in Notts County's uplifting win over Newcastle United at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Both with points to prove - they had recently been confined to the substitutes' bench - the pair were Notts' best players as the side regained the fourth and last promotion play-off spot they carelessly forfeited on Easter Monday. Regis, only in because Tommy Johnson was serving a one-match ban, also took on the chief responsibility for goals, scoring clinically either side of young Chris Short's splendid first goal for the club in 71 minutes.

Just as importantly, with nine games the equivalent of cup finals left, Regis recaptured his power and purpose and was one spark in a poor first half that did neither team credit But Harding, who has yet to score a league goal, was more compelling in the second half when he switched into a true midfield role. His first half brief was to mark Gavin Peacock, a function which forced him deep. Apart from his tremendous workrate, Harding challenged in typically swashbuckling style and played some good passes. In fact, his through-ball just after half time to send Kevin Bartlett clear was the most perceptive of the match. Bartlett's shot was parried by veteran goalkeeper John Burridge and from the rebound skipper Phil Turner's drive was cleared off the line. When Harding, who has suffered groin trouble virtually since the FA Cup quarter final at Tottenham, was substituted with 12 minutes left he was given a fitting ovation.

Another County success on his return to the side was Charlie Palmer. Deposed from the right-back position by the emerging Chris Short, Palmer was given his chance in the centre of defence by Dean Yates' three game suspension. He always looked comfortable, though even with the 18-goal Mick Quinn in their attack Newcastle were inept and disjointed. They might have taken a 28 minute lead when Steve Cherry got in the way of Bjorn Kristensen's shot, and seven minutes from the end Peacock put a shot against the bar. Otherwise, new boss Ossie Ardiles was entitled to wear the hangdog look of a man who had wondered just what he had taken on.

Notts, accomplishing only their second double of the season, improved considerably when facing the difficult wind after half time. They used the ball more sensibly and accurately, though Regis's breakthrough goal in 50 minutes was an obvious boost. Turner, with a superb pass put Regis in position to the right of goal and, powerfully holding off John Anderson, he carefully placed his low shot into the far corner. Two Newcastle substitutions injected more purpose and ambition, but County's right to a Second goal was beyond dispute when Chris Short struck in the 72nd minute. The 20-year-old right back, an exciting player when he drives forward, carried the ball for 35 yards and went past several defenders before finishing low inside Burridge's near post. However, the way United's defence opened up would have dismayed Ardiles, who enjoyed a tactical triumph when his former Swindon team achieved a goalless draw at Meadow Lane in November. Four minutes later Regis met Don O'Riordan's precision centre from the left before Burridge and headed through strongly. His goals were his first since the match at Charlton on January 22, but ten in only twenty starts amply bears out his effectiveness as a late football league entrant.
 

Up the Maggies footnote:
The appalling weather conditions partly explained the very disappointing attendance, Newcastle also brought a very small following (by their standards) as they were now 9 points adrift of the play offs and their next home match would be watched by only 10,004. Jim Smith had resigned as their manager a few weeks earlier and Newcastle then poached Ossie Ardiles from Swindon, but they still lost their Easter bank holiday home match to Bristol Rovers. After the 2nd or 3rd goal went in against them at Meadow Lane, a Newcastle fan ran onto the pitch and approached his players whilst thumping his own chest as if to say "Show some f****** heart" before he was arrested. Chris Short's goal was really quite extraordinary, especially for a defender! And I don't think I've ever seen a footballer so obviously over-weight as Micky Quinn. The win pushed County back into the play off zone after Bristol City had leapfrogged Notts by beating us at Ashton Gate 3-2 on Easter Monday.
 

Notts County Season 1990/91
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