Notts County fans describe unseen FA Cup shootout win through thick fog

Notts County supporters have described relying on crowd noise to follow their side's FA Cup first-round victory at Altrincham after thick fog obscured the action. In a report published on Tuesday, BBC News detailed how the conditions affected 690 travelling fans during Saturday's tie, which Notts won 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

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Rosaire Longelo converted the decisive spot-kick at the J Davidson Stadium, with Altrincham missing the target three times in the shootout. But the penalties took place at the opposite end from the visiting supporters, leaving fans unable to watch the finish clearly. Supporter Lynda Lally told the BBC that silence from the home end became the signal for Notts fans to celebrate.

The match had begun in conditions that lifelong supporter Ian Kirke described as normal. Jacob Bedeau put League One side Notts County ahead shortly before the half-hour mark, before National League hosts Altrincham turned the game around through goals from Lucas Weaver and Lewis Banks. Callum Roberts then equalised from outside the penalty area, bringing Notts back to 2-2 as visibility deteriorated.

Referee David Rock allowed the tie to continue despite the worsening fog. The BBC reported that television cameras often struggled to follow the ball, while its radio commentators also had difficulty describing the action. Adam Hassell could make out players' white shirt numbers but struggled with events across the pitch. Fellow commentator and former Notts striker Mark Stallard said those in the press box could not see the players or assistant referee on the far side.

Lally, from Beeston in Nottinghamshire, said visibility declined after half-time until supporters could follow passages of play only when players came out of the fog. She had hoped the shootout would be held in front of the away end. Instead, the visiting crowd listened to Altrincham supporters' reactions to work out whether individual penalties had gone their way.

Kirke, who lives in Berkshire, also received messages from a friend watching on television, although that view was affected too. He compared the conditions with the fog that caused Notts County's FA Cup third-round replay against Wimbledon to be abandoned in 2001, telling the BBC that the earlier occasion had been less severe. This time the match reached a conclusion, with Longelo's penalty securing Notts County's progression.