There have not been many games between Town and the Magpies, but they span almost 90 years and they have met in all Divisions except the Fourth. There have been 3 FA Cup meetings, 1921/22 Semi Final at Turf Moor, won 3-1; 1937/38 Round 4 at Leeds Road, won 1-0; and 1983/84 Round 4 also at Leeds Road, lost 1-2. The only League Cup match up was in Round 2 in 1999/2000 when Town scraped through 2-1 and 2-2.
The first match up was in Division 2 in 1913/14. On 13th December 1913 Town went to Meadow Lane and, in front of about 12,000, lost 0-3. The return fixture, the penultimate game of the season saw Morley(og) and Mann scoring in a 2-1 win watched by around 9,000. This was an average home gate that season.
The best cup win came in Town’s only winning season and on 25th March 1922, watched by 46,323 at Turf moor Town triumphed 3-1, Mann Billy Smith and Clem Stephenson scoring for Town. This was the best gate ever between the sides. Town won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge against Preston North End just 5 weeks later, thanks to a Billy Smith penalty, in front of 53,710.
The next meetings came in Town’s 3 Championship seasons, but despite being Champions they managed only 1 win in the 6 games, a 2-0 triumph at Leeds Road in 1925/26. The other 5 games resulted in 3 draws and 2 losses. In 1956/57, when Town dropped back into Division 2, Town earned their only ‘double’ winning 3-0 and 2-1. The away win was one of only two gained to date. 1984/85 saw the only other away win 2-0. Strangely Town lost the home fixture 1-2 that year. The Magpies ‘double’ occurred in the last league meetings in the 20th century, 1989/90 in Division 3 when Town came up with the short straw 1-2 and 0-1.
In this century the sides have met 2001-02 (2-2, 1-2) and the following season (3-0, 2-3) until County slid down into the basement. They won the fourth division title by 10 points in 2009-10 and hosted Town on opening day in 2010-11. On the day it was one sided with Town having about 60% of the possession and putting on a great display to take 3 points with a great 3-0 win (Pilkington(2), Rhodes). Everyone gave 100% and indeed the score could have been more emphatic as Town missed several chances. The defence was solid, the midfield in control and all in all a great start to share 1st place at game’s end.
The Magpies are hovering just above the drop zone after a poor recent run. Last match they lost 0-1 at Brighton, before that 0-1 at home to Bristol Rovers, 0-1 at Rochdale, a 1-0 win against the Wendies, a 0-1 home loss to the Posh and a 0-2 away loss to Orient. Clearly they do not give away many goals but lack punch up front. That seems to be Town’s disease, the only difference being that this year when Town has not scored then neither has the opposition. Lee Clark consistently either leaves our top scorer on the bench or takes him off part way through and Town struggle to find the net. With Saints and the Posh breathing down their neck Town simply cannot afford more draws, wins are essential. Having said that I think it will be another nail biter (when is it ever not?) but for some unknown reason I am still optimistic and think Town will win 1-0.
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