21st November 2017

Substitute Jonathan Forte put the Magpies ahead with low shot and Zoko equalised from the spot after being bundled over by Richard Duffy in the 79th minute.

As the Glovers aimed for three points, Millwall loanee Sid Nelson was dismissed for an alleged elbow which led to a more regimented approach in the closing stages to secure the draw.

Olufela Olomola and Zoko made a welcomed return from their bans to start in the same four-man attack which dismantled Stevenage just over three weeks ago.

Saturday’s goalscorer Rhys Browne and Jake Gray dropped to bench with Darren Way only able to name four others alongside them due to the absent quartet of Ryan Dickson (concussion), Paulius Golubickas (Under-18s commitments), Bevis Mugabi (suspension) and Alefe Santos (illness).

County boasted over 760 more career appearances than Town in their starting XI but it was Olomola’s youthfulness that tested veteran Carl Dickinson on the right flank in the opening exchanges.

The 20-year-old then went close with the game’s first clearcut chance on 10 minutes, flicking over Otis Khan’s near-post corner on the half-turn.

A wild 30-yard strike from Matt Worthington followed before Ryan Yates stung the palms of Artur Krysiak with a sweet drive, with Duffy lashing over the rebound.

Magpies defender Shaun Brisley nodded over and experienced frontman Jon Stead sent his own header into Krysiak’s arms in an extremely uneventful first half hour.

It was to be ex-Bristol City forward Stead’s last contribution as he left the field injured for Forte shortly after Tom James sliced a long range effort wide for Yeovil.

Barbados international Forte was only on the field for six minutes before putting Notts ahead. The former Sheffield United man collected Brisley’s knockdown and fired low into the corner.

Town almost restored parity on the half-time whistle but Olomola could hit into the away terrace from 20 yards. 

The visitors went in search of a second immediately following the restart and Rob Milsom was whiskers away from grabbing it, flashing a vicious shot across the face of goal. Then Grant teased Yeovil’s defence, nutmegging Nathan Smith before curling marginally wide.

It led to Browne being introduced and he nearly made an immediate impact, scampering away from several blue shirts to get into a shooting position but unfortunately losing his footing at the vital moment. 

Chances came few and far between for the next 20 minutes until referee Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot.

Browne slipped Zoko in and after he was tripped by Duffy, the Ivorian made no mistake in dispatching from 12 yards against his former employer, sending goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons the wrong way.

The ascendency remained with the Green and Whites as the Thatchers Terrace roared their team on, but the hosts had to be wary of County’s swift counter-attack and were let off when Jorge Grant lifted the ball over the bar inside the box. 

There was late drama in Somerset, though of a goalscoring nature. Nelson was shown a straight red card for an altercation in a crowd of players, however it didn’t have an effect on the final score.

Yeovil Town: Krysiak, James, Nelson, Sowunmi, N.Smith, Worthington, Bailey (C.Smith 75), Khan (Green 76), Olomola, Surridge (Browne 53), Zoko.
Bookings: None.
Sending off: Nelson 89.
Not used: Maddison, Davies, Gray.

Notts County: Fitzsimons, Tootle, Brisley,  Duffy, Dickinson, Hawkridge, Milsom (Hewitt 87), Yates, Grant, Stead (Forte 35), Alessandra.
Bookings: Grant 83.
Not used:
Pindroch, Hunt, Hollis, Walker, A.Smith.