Notts County boss Luke Williams has explained how the goal his side conceded against York City last weekend could stand his players in good stead going into their play-off semi-final with Boreham Wood on Sunday afternoon.
The Magpies were forced to share the points in the final league game of their remarkable National League campaign as Shaq Forde's 89th-minute equaliser saw The Minstermen confirm their place in the fifth division for next season.
Macaulay Langstaff had given the hosts the lead to score his 42nd goal of a stellar first season for Notts, becoming a record-breaker in the process.
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In a dominant first-half showing, Williams' side created several opportunities to increase their advantage but were thwarted by an inspired Ryan Whitley showing - the York keeper making a string of pivotal saves including two late on from Adam Chicksen and Cedwyn Scott.
Despite having 19 more shots, 75% possession which included 841 passes, and an xG of 2.75, it provided a frustrating set of match statistics in another game of complete control and domination.
Having conceded 42 goals this season, only bettered by Luke Garrard's side, the Notts head coach believed that Forde's strike is a timely reminder of what can happen in a one-off knockout fixture.
"Yeah, I agree with that for sure and I think that when you dominate a game so much and you naturally the players feel like they huffed and puffed to try and get that second goal, it didn't happen, the game is nearly finished so we can relax.
"They're human beings but, we have to try and push them to be better, and even the top, top professional will be there for every moment, so that was a good opportunity for me to say to the players that in a game where the numbers were so lopsided in terms of the chances we created to the opportunities we gave up.
"But football is beautiful because it is - otherwise you might as well leave after the first goal if football is as simple as that.
"It's brilliant, but we are still always trying to do better."
