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Joe Jones
New Notts County striker Izale McLeod has made an immediate mark at Meadow Lane since his arrival a month ago, nabbing two goals in three league games plus another in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy to give the Notts faithful a hint of hope for the season ahead.
Prior to his arrival in the East Midlands, however, the 30-year-old was involved in a long and protracted transfer saga with former club Crawley Town – who the Magpies face tonight.
A number of transfer bids came and went, and his stock with the Red Devils fans appeared to fall as stories about how he was allegedly handling his departure began to surface.
It was no surprise that, given tonight’s fixture at the Lane, he would be asked about his take on the whole debacle.
He said: "I knew from the end of the season there was interest from other clubs. It was left to my agent and for the club to try to sort out.
"Listen… I've been around the block. I know what transfers are all about. I just kept my head down and worked on my fitness.
"But I know what football clubs are like. Everybody talks about individual players and they say players are doing this and they are doing that.
"But what people outside of football don't realise is how clubs manipulate situations to make the players look bad.
"However, I've got nothing bad to say about Crawley, I made a lot of friends there and I wish them all the best."
To discuss Izale McLeod's views on his former club, there's a forum thread up on the site. To check out the build-up to tonight's game, visit the Pride of Nottingham match thread and join the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County have only ever played Crawley Town six times in their history, and all six games took part in the last three years.
The first ever fixture between the two was on 10th November 2012. The League One game, played at Meadow Lane, finished 1-1, while the away fixture was a goalless draw.
The head-to-head record is evenly poised with two wins, two draws and two defeats. The last game was a 2-0 win for the Red Devils, a League One tie on 18th April 2015 at the Broadfield.
Crawley Town have been a non-league side for the majority of their history – around a decade ago, while Notts were struggling to survive in the old Second Division, Crawley had just been promoted from the Southern Football League!
Crawley have won plenty of silverware in their history, though the majority of it is amateur-based. This changed when they won the Conference National title in 2011 and the League Two title just a year later.
2010-11 was a record-breaking season not just for Crawley, but also for the Conference. The West Sussex club broke the points total in one season (105) and tie with other teams for most wins in one season (31), fewest defeats (3), and highest goal difference (+63). Because of this season, alongside the funds they had to buy players and an unlikeable manager (Steve Evans), they were known as “the Manchester United of non-league football”.
The town of Crawley is known for being close - just three miles in fact - to Gatwick Airport, the world's busiest single-runway international airport.
Famous people who have links to Crawley include Australian footballer Kevin Muscat (born in Crawley), Gareth Southgate (attended the town's Hazelwick School), English rock band The Cure (formed in Crawley, several of its members attended St Wilfrid's RC School) and Gorillaz lead singer 2D (a fictional character, his back story claims he grew up in the town).
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Ricardo Moniz said on Saturday that he was "ashamed" by the way his team conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 at Wimbledon and he vowed to freshen things up for the visit of Crawley.
The Dutchman has options at the back with Mike Edwards, Rhys Sharpe and Scott Bennett pushing for recalls while Elliott Hewitt and Civard Sprockel are nearing returns from injury.
Curtis Thompson, Liam Noble and Julian Jenner are options elsewhere for Moniz while striker Izale McLeod will hope to keep his place in the starting line up against the club he left last month to join the Magpies.
Crawley boss Mark Yates, meanwhile, was only able to name four substitutes for Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Yeovil due to a lengthy list of injuries and suspensions.
Gwion Edwards is still banned while new signing Rhys Murphy is a doubt after missing Saturday's loss due to tonsillitis.
Fellow new boy Ross Jenkins could make his first start after coming off the bench on Saturday while Lewis Young and Bobson Bawling will be pushing for a return to the starting XI.
Joe Jones
It feels surprisingly familiar what happened today at Kingsmeadow, with Notts County leading until the latter stages of the game against Wimbledon yet succumbing to a 2-1 defeat by the time the final whistle was blown.
The Magpies started brightly and saw Genaro Snijders volley wide of the post before Stanley Aborah fired a low effort just wide.
Adam Campbell was next to try his luck as he cut inside and forced a save from James Shea through a deflected shot.
Eventually Ricardo Moniz’s side took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when a free kick from Graham Burke was nodded home by defender Haydn Hollis.
The visitors then made a bright start to the second half as Adam Campbell’s cross for Izale McLeod was glanced just over, while Liam Noble’s long-range strike forced a good save from Shea.
Wimbledon, however, grew into the game after the restart and were soon dominating proceedings on the pitch, getting their just rewards five minutes from time when George Francomb's cross was converted by Bulman at the back post.
And then, almost predictably, Notts threw the game away right at the death as Adebayo Akinfenwa nodded in a cross from the right wing to loot the win.
Joe Jones
Victory for Notts County against Wimbledon on Saturday would be history in the making – the Magpies have never beaten them.
Granted, they have only ever met six times, and they’ve drawn twice, but nevertheless it is a statistic that they will want to rectify.
The first meeting was Boxing Day 1984, where the Dons beat Notts 3-2 at Plough Lane.
Meanwhile the last meeting was in an FA Cup replay back in January 2001, where Trond Andersen scored a goal a minute from penalties in extra time to clinch it for the London side.
Notts will be without several first-team players for Saturday's trip, with midfielder Rob Milsom still some weeks away from fitness after a serious knee injury which was sustained in training.
Also missing for Ricardo Moniz is right-back Elliott Hewitt, who sustained a hamstring injury in the League Cup defeat at Aston Villa and is expected to be out for a few more weeks alongside Kyle De Silva and Civard Sprockel.
There are also long-term absentees to contend with as Taylor McKenzie and Ronan Murray are out.
For Wimbledon, Jake Reeves is set to keep his place, but Lyle Taylor will not feature, as he serves the second of a three-match suspension following his dismissal at Mansfield.
Forwards Ade Azeez and Sean Rigg will be hoping for starts in Taylor's absence, after recent substitute appearances.
Son of Berti
When the season’s calendar was first released, I bet that I wasn’t the only Notts fan to think that we had an easy opening two months ahead of us and an opportunity to gain a fearsome reputation by the end of September as nailed-on ‘hard to beat’ promotion candidates.
Now, just five matches into the season, I suspect that every team that hasn’t yet played us wishes that they could do before the end of this month – such have been our results!
Well all I can say to them is “Be careful what you wish for” because, from what I have seen so far, it looks to me as if we are very close to clicking as a unit and going on to fulfil our pre-season potential.
Last season, pre-November, we were winning, but winning ugly and I can remember thinking to myself that if we could win matches even though we were playing badly, sooner or later we would start hammering teams.
But, as the records will show, things went from bad to wurst as they say in Germany, but I’m sure you get my drift. When the early season loanees returned to their parent clubs, we never replaced them with players of a similar quality and the rest is history.
I remember that my immediate post-match reaction after each disappointing result became a mix of anger and bitter disappointment at the poor quality of football that we were playing. Diminishing attendance figures at Meadow Lane told their own story.
The inspired 2013-14 loan signings of saviours Callum McGregor and Jack Grealish weren’t to be repeated and we swirled down the plug-hole of despair aka relegation to League Two.
So why the optimism after our visit to Morecambe last weekend?
Normally, I am a glass half-empty sort of bloke but right now I’m watching the barmaid fill my glass to over-flowing!
And my three reasons for being cheerful are:
Number 1
The stats will show that if we had converted just one quarter of our shots against Morecambe, we would have scored 5 goals. Their first two goals were clinically executed and were scored totally against the run of play. Their conversion rate of shots to goals was the key factor in their win. I think they scored from 4 of their total of 5 shots that were on target. That is an enviable conversion rate but one which I feel sure we can emulate with the talent that we have available.
 
Number 2
The football we play is thrilling to watch and the number of crosses we had during the course of recent matches would have put Pontius Pilate to shame. I left the Morecambe game not feeling angry or disappointed but bemused and emotionally stunned because the lads had entertained us, had some great passages of play, had put cross after cross into the box, and should have won based on their domination of the game. But it wasn’t our day and I couldn’t quite understand just how we had managed to lose that game. However, with the passing of each successive match, it is clear that the level of understanding between players is improving. With that gelling, will come success.
 
Number 3
Everyone says that our Achilles heel is our defence. But our lists of suspensions and injuries have severely affected the effectiveness of our back four and defensive mid-fielders. Even with just half of the absentees back, I feel sure that Ricardo will be able to sort out this weakness, and then prove that attack is indeed the best form of defence.
The best is yet to come; of that I am sure. Just keep the faith!
Cobby
Back for another season of Meet the Fans we asked the Notts County faithful their opinions on this summer's signing and what we needed to do to climb back up the table. Thank you, once again, for everyone who agreed to take part in this week's video!
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Please leave your comments on this video, letting me know if you like the facelift. Your feedback really helps us make sure our videos are relevant to what you, the viewers, want from Meet the Fans.
Joe Jones
Finally, a positive result that restores some positivity at Meadow Lane – Izale McLeod’s double and Liam Noble’s stunning last-minute free kick have given Notts County a 3-2 victory against Luton Town, in a game where the visitors pegged the Magpies back from two goals up.
Ricardo Moniz’s charges started brightly and had a goal chalked off for offside when Mawouna Amevor headed in a free kick, before Stephen O’Donnell felled McLeod in the box, only for the striker’s penalty appeal to be waved away.
Roy Carroll was then called into action to save from Olly Lee after his shot was deflected off Graham Burke, who himself countered through a shot that cleared the bar 26 minutes in.
Notts took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when a Burke cross found an unmarked McLeod, who duly rose and nodded home. Genaro Snijders could have then doubled the home side’s advantage shortly before the break, but his shot drifted wide.
Neither side made any changes at half time as the Magpies got the game back underway, and just three minutes after the restart, they succeeded in doubling their lead when Thierry Audel’s cutback was rifled home by McLeod, who secured his brace and was on a hat-trick.
With just under twenty minutes to go, Luton clawed a goal back through Cameron McGeehan, who finished off a team move that included touches by Scott Griffiths, Josh McQuiod and Craig Mackail-Smith.
The Hatters then drew level in the 76th minute, much to the chagrin of the Notts faithful, when Jonathan Smith equalised to wipe out the hosts’ two-goal lead completely.
It set up a chaotic final 20 minutes as both sides went for the winner and, after Scott Cuthbert saw red for a professional foul on McLeod, Noble stepped up to blast an unstoppable free kick from 20 yards out into the net to send the home fans barmy.
The result means that Notts climb to 18th and build some distance between themselves and the bottom three.
To discuss the game, come onto the relevant Pride of Nottingham forum thread and join the conversation.
 
Credit to Dan Westwell for the image.
Joe Jones
Notts and Luton have faced off 66 times, with the first meeting coming in January 1912 when the Magpies secured a 4-2 away win in the FA Cup.
The record is heavily slanted towards the Hatters, who have 34 wins to Notts’s 13, 19 draws completing the head-to-head.
Out of the eight matches between the two that have taken place since the turn of the century, Notts have won two, drawn three and lost three, including the last fixture – a 2-0 defeat in League Two back in Match 2009.
Luton Town Football Club was formed on 11 April 1885, the product of a merger of the two leading local teams, Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior.
The club was the first in southern England to turn professional, making payments to players as early as 1890 and turning fully professional a year later.
It joined the Football League before the 1897–98 season, left in 1900 because of financial problems, and rejoined in 1920.
Luton reached the First Division in 1955–56 and contested a major final for the first time when playing Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final.
The team was then relegated from the top division in 1959–60, and demoted twice more in the following five years, playing in the Fourth Division from the 1965–66 season. However, it was promoted back to the top level by1974–75.
Luton Town's most recent successful period began in 1981–82, when the club won the Second Division, and thereby gained promotion to the First. Luton defeated Arsenal 3–2 in the 1988 Football League Cup Final and remained in the First Division until relegation at the end of the 1991–92 season.
Between 2007 and 2009, financial difficulties caused the club to fall from the second tier of English football to the fifth in successive seasons. The last of these relegations came during the 2008–09 season, when 30 points were docked from Luton's record for various financial irregularities.
Luton then spent five seasons in non-League football before winning the Conference Premier in 2013–14, securing promotion back into the Football League.
The club's nickname, "the Hatters", reflects Luton's historical connection with the hat making trade, which has been prominent there since the 1600s. The nickname was originally a variant on the now rarely seen straw-plaiters. Supporters of the club are also called Hatters.
Luton is associated with two very different colour schemes—white and black (first permanently adopted in 1920), and orange, navy and white (first used in 1973, and worn by the team as of the 2015–16 season).
During the 2014–15 season, Luton Town had an average home league attendance of 8,702 – the second highest in League Two behind only Portsmouth.
In the 2013–14 season, when the club were in the Conference Premier, the club had significantly higher support than the other clubs in its league, with an average home attendance of 7,387; more than twice compared to the second highest of 3,568.
The record for the most appearances for Luton is held by Bob Morton, who turned out for the club 562 times in all competitions between 1946 and 1964. Morton also holds the record for the most Football League appearances for the club, with 495.
Fred Hawkes holds the record for the most league appearances for Luton, having played in 509 league matches.
Six players, Gordon Turner, Andy Rennie, Brian Stein, Ernie Simms, Herbert Moody and Steve Howard, have scored more than 100 goals for Luton.
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Liam Noble is available again after a three-match ban for Notts, while Roy Carroll, Mawouna Amevor and Rhys Sharpe are all back in contention following their return from international duty with their respective countries.
Gill Swerts, Haydn Hollis, and Stanley Aborah, all had to be substituted during Notts' last match against Mansfield in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and Swerts' fitness is still in doubt.
Civard Sprockel, Blair Adams, Elliott Hewitt, Curtis Thompson, Rob Milsom and Kyle De Silva missed out against the Stags through injury.
Luton have midfielders Cameron McGeehan and Paddy McCourt available again, the former having been on international duty with the Northern Ireland senior team, while the latter was suspended after rejecting an opportunity to play for Northern Ireland Under-21s.
The suspended Jack Marriott is serving the second game of his two-match ban, and Paul Benson is considered doubtful because of a neck injury.
Full-back Dan Potts and midfielder Nathan Doyle are also both expected to miss out as both are carrying hamstring injuries.
Joe Jones
League leaders Leyton Orient were thrashed 4-0 by Exeter City at St. James Park, as Tom Nichols scored twice from the penalty spot and Alex Nicholls and David Wheeler rounded off the scoring.
The East London outfit remains first but Wycombe Wanderers are hot on their heels, having moved up to second in the table after they beat Hartlepool United 2-1, with the result being Pools's third defeat on the bounce.
Teddy Sheringham picked up another victory as Stevenage manager as his side beat Plymouth Argyle, with first-half goals from Connor Ogilvie and Chris Whelpdale giving the former England star the victory and causing the Pilgrims to slip to third.
Oxford United, who played on Sunday, registered a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers that saw the visitors climb to fourth.
Portsmouth couldn’t capitalise on their South Coast rivals’ defeat as they could only claim a goalless home draw against Accrington Stanley, a result that sees Pompey drop to fifth.
Morecambe came back from two goals down to grab all three points against 10-man Yeovil Town, after Shaun Jeffers saw a first-half red card in their 4-2 loss – the Shrimpers climb to sixth with 10 points, the same as seventh-placed Exeter, while the Glovers slip into the relegation zone.
Carlisle United came out on top in their five-goal thriller against Barnet, as Derek Asamoah netted a brace to give the home side all three points and climb to 11th.
Matt McClure bagged a first-half brace for Dagenham & Redbridge in their 2-1 away win at Northampton Town.
Luton Town comfortably overcame 10-man Cambridge United, as Luke Guttridge, Luke Wilkinson and Danny Green scored the goals for the away side.
Mansfield Town and AFC Wimbledon shared the spoils in their match, as Chris Clements cancelled out Tom Elliott's opener.
York City condemned Newport County to their fifth defeat of the season, leaving them bottom of League Two after goals from James Berrett, Reece Thompson and Vadaine Oliver won it comfortably for the away side.
Notts County and Crawley Town didn’t play following international call-ups, so the Magpies slip to 22nd and the Red Devils to 18th, albeit with a game in hand.
Results in full (half-time scores in brackets):
Cambridge United 1-3 Luton Town
Carlisle United 3-2 Barnet
Exeter City 4-0 Leyton Orient
Mansfield Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
Newport County 0-3 York City
Northampton Town 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Portsmouth 0-0 Accrington Stanley
Stevenage 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Hartlepool United
Yeovil Town 2-4 Morecambe
Notts P-P Crawley
Here's how the table looks like after matchday 6:
 

 
Leyton Orient remain at the top of the league but by a whisker, with Wycombe hot on their heels. Plymouth, Oxford and Portsmouth sit just behind, while Morecambe and Exeter round off the promotion places. Down at the bottom, Newport's dreadful start to the season continues, while Yeovil's fall from grace shows no sign of stopping. Notts are just above the drop zone, but they have a game in hand.
Joe Jones
Leyton Orient maintained their winning start to the League Two season, remaining top of the table with five wins from five matches after beating Bristol Rovers 2-0 at Brisbane Road.
Plymouth Argyle beat Newport County 1-0 as Graham Carey's 43rd-minute strike, his fourth of the season, saw the Pilgrims remain in second place.
Morecambe took the lead against Notts County through Alan Goodall, but were pegged back soon before half time by Genaro Snijders’s wonderful long-range strike. Substitute Paul Mullin gave Morecambe the lead for a second time, striking past Roy Carroll into the top corner. Another sub in the form of Alex Kenyon made it 3-1 in the 88th minute, before Jamie Devitt sealed a 4-1 win minutes later.
Portsmouth left it late against Luton Town to claim a 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road, with Gareth Evans putting the hosts ahead. Pompey’s Craig Mackail-Smith then equalised from the spot, before Matt Tubbs struck at the death for the Hatters.
Carlisle United came from behind twice to record a 3-2 victory at Hartlepool United as Scott Harrison put the hosts in front six minutes in. Jabo Ibehre's eighth goal in seven games then made it 1-1 in the second half, before Billy Paynter dispatched a penalty to make it 2-1 to Pool. Tom Miller again levelled the scoreline, but Ibehre's second five minutes from time gave Carlisle all three points.
Oxford United claimed a 2-0 win against Yeovil Town through Danny Hylton and Callum O'Dowda.
Mansfield Town ran out 2-1 winners at York City as Reece Thompson opened the scoring for the hosts, but Matt Green’s subsequent brace ensured that the Stags left Bootham Crescent with all three points.
AFC Wimbledon won by the same scoreline against Exeter City, George Francomb putting the hosts ahead, Ryan Harley levelling the scores minutes later, and Ade Azeez firing the winner for the 1988 FA Cup holders.
Northampton Town and Accrington Stanley shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, with Marc Richards's third strike of the season putting the Cobblers into the lead. A Josh Windass penalty early in the second half then brought the scores level, with no further goals settling the result.
Dagenham & Redbridge and Stevenage also shared a 1-1 draw as the hosts – without a league win this season – took an early advantage courtesy of an Ashley Hemmings goal. Stevenage then drew level through Tom Hitchcock, finishing from Brett Williams' knockdown after Tom Conlon's crossfield pass.
Elsewhere, there were goalless draws between both Crawley Town and Wycombe Wanderers, and Barnet and Cambridge United.
Results in full:
Accrington 1-1 Northampton
AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Exeter
Barnet 0-0 Cambridge
Crawley 0-0 Wycombe
Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Stevenage
Hartlepool 2-3 Carlisle
Leyton Orient 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Luton 1-2 Portsmouth
Morecambe 4-1 Notts
Oxford 2-0 Yeovil
Plymouth 1-0 Newport
York 1-2 Mansfield
Here's how the League Table looks like after Matchday 5:
 

 
Leyton Orient and Plymouth are the early pacesetters, with Wycombe remaining in automatic promotion contention despite dropping two points, but with Portsmouth snapping at their heels in fourth. Oxford, Hartlepool and Bristol Rovers occupy the remaining playoff slots. It's still early days as just four points separate eighth from 20th - ironically, Mansfield and Notts - but Newport will be worried after claiming just one point from their opening five matches.
To discuss all the happenings in League Two and across the other leagues in the country, visit the Pride of Nottingham English Leagues section and join the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County gave their fans something to cheer about in the form of a much-needed good performance, capped off with a comprehensive win over a local rival to whom they'd lost badly a few weeks prior, and finished off with cup progress and positive hopes for the next few games.
Sure, it was "just", as some say, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, but nevertheless Notts claimed a solid 3-1 win over Mansfield Town - the opposition goal only scored from the spot in the 95th minute - which has gone some way towards changing the fans' outlook from glum to something brighter.
Notts started well, with opposition goalkeeper Brian Jensen having to pluck two crosses from the air and winning a race to the ball in the opening stages, while Graham Burke saw a shot blocked in the eighth minute.
The Magpies came close to opening the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark when Adam Campbell cut into the box from the left and rifled an effort against the post.
Jensen was once again involved when Jon Stead breached the Stags defence in the 25th minute, frantically getting down to claim the ball.
Ten minutes before the break, however, the visitors had a sterling chance of their own when McGuire sent Yussuf through one-on-one with Loach, only to see the keeper turn the ball behind for a corner.
An extended period of pressure from Mansfield followed, but Notts ended the first half strongly as Wes Atkinson fired across the face of goal and Haydn Hollis headed just wide of target.
Gill Swerts picked up an injury at the break, prompting veteran Mike Edwards to take his place on the pitch, but this didn’t affect Notts as they picked up from where they left off.
On 47 minutes, the impressive Campbell played a one-two with Stead to carve the Stags back line open, but Jensen palmed the ball out for a corner, which Edwards subsequently nodded over.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 52 minutes and, much to the relief of the increasingly nervous Notts fans, it fell their way as Izale McLeod was played through on goal before the move was finished off with a cute chip over Jensen and into the net.
Mansfield upped gear and pressed forward in a bid to force an equaliser, but with 11 minutes to go the hosts doubled their lead, courtesy of Steady Eddy himself, who got onto a loose ball following a scramble in the box and slotted between Jensen’s legs.
A cathartic, redemptive evening was confirmed in the 90th minute as Stead’s 20-yard free kick took a heavy deflection and wrongfooted the Stags stopper en route to the back of the net.
Mansfield did manage a late consolation as Edwards brought down Craig Westcarr in the last of five added minutes for a penalty, which the ex-Notts man converted, but it was too little too late as the final whistle blew on a solid victory which made amends for the league defeat just weeks ago.
Joe Jones
Notts midfielder Stanley Aborah returns to the reckoning for his side as they prepare to host neighbours Mansfield Town in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The 28-year-old missed the 4-1 League Two loss at Morecambe on Saturday as he served a one-match suspension, having received five yellow cards already this season.
Fellow centre men Liam Noble, who will complete his three-game ban against the Stags, Curtis Thompson and Rob Milsom remain unavailable.
Ricardo Moniz is looking to sign another striker before the transfer window closes on Tuesday night and any new addition may be included in the squad for the first-round tie.
Mansfield goalkeeper Scott Shearer is not expected to be available.
The 34-year-old Scot has been laid low with an infection in his ankle after being "bitten by something" earlier this month and, even though he was discharged from hospital a week ago, the short trip may have come too soon for him.
Without Shearer, Stags boss Adam Murray is left with just one goalkeeper in 40-year-old Brian Jensen.
Summer signing Matt Green, in his second stint at Field Mill, will hope to continue his goalscoring streak after bagging a brace during Saturday's 2-1 victory at York City, while winger Matty Blair remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
The match marks a second visit of Mansfield to Meadow Lane in the space of a few weeks after their league meeting on Friday August 14, a 2-0 win for the visitors.
To voice your thoughts and opinions on this fixture, come on to Pride of Nottingham's dedicated match forum and join the conversation.
Joe Jones
A lacklustre and wasteful Notts side were torn apart at the Globe Arena on Saturday by a patchwork Morecambe side that, despite missing a number of key players and seeing several more subbed off with injuries, still ran four goals past them.
It was a frantic start from the visitors at the Globe Arena as Adam Campbell twice forced saves from goalkeeper Barry Roche and whistled a cross across the face of goal.
There was action at the other end too with Aaron Wildig’s lob from 20 yards causing Roy Carroll to back-pedal frantically, though he was lucky to see the ball land on the roof of the net.
Morecambe went on to take the lead 20 minutes in when Alan Goodall was given way too much time and space on the ball, leading to a 25-yard drive which flew beyond Carroll and into the net.
The visitors were inches from pulling level on the half-hour mark but after a fine one-two on the edge of the area Jon Stead cannoned his subsequent shot off the crossbar with Roche stranded.
Five minutes before the break, however, Genaro Snijders gave the travelling fans a moment to savour - and at the time, cause for hope - when the ball dropped to him 20 yards out and he responded by lashing a ferocious volley into the top corner of the net.
Having lost captain Shaun Beeley towards the end of the first period, Shrimpers manager Jim Bentley was also forced to replace Wildig at the break.
Morecambe found themselves on the back foot in shortly after the restart, but grew into their revised three-at-the-back system, Jamie Devitt slicing wide from just inside the box.
Ricardo Moniz's charges continued to press the issue but were sucker-punched when, against the run of play, Paul Mullin bore down on goal from the left and curled a shot beyond Carroll.
The visitors immediately went in search of an equaliser, with Campbell blazing wide from 15 yards and Stead forcing a save from Roche with a volley.
Two minutes from time it was all over as Alex Kenyon was given free rein to blaze into the area and slot the ball through the legs of Carroll.
Then, on the 90-minute mark, Devitt added gloss to the scoreline and stuck a further knife into the pride of the travelling fans by beating the offside trap and helping himself to another goal of utter simplicity.
Mullin nearly made it five in stoppage time but saw his shot from the edge of the area whistle over the crossbar, but by this time the point had been hammered down - Notts are ill-equipped and ill-prepared for life in this league.
Joe Jones
Notts County travel up to Morecambe on Saturday 29th August for a league clash that sees both sides try to improve their lukewarm form.
The Magpies began the season brightly with a league win at Stevenage and the shock victory at Huddersfield in the League Cup, but poor showings against
Meanwhile the Shrimpers have lost three in five but and saw a late goal deny them victory at Portsmouth, the match finishing 3-3.
The match officials for the game will be referee Ross Joyce, assistants Alf Greenwood and Paul Marsden, and fourth official James Mainwaring.
Referee: Ross Joyce
From: Cleveland
He has never refereed a Notts game.
Run down of his last four games:
League Two: Saturday 15 Aug 2015 - Northampton 3-0 Exeter (4 yellows, no reds)
League Two: Saturday 22 Aug 2015 - Bristol Rovers 3-1 Barnet (3 yellows, no reds)
Conference: Sunday 17 May 2015 - Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby (4 yellows, no reds)
Conference: Saturday 25 Apr 2015 - Forest Green 0-0 Dover (4 yellows, no reds)
In his last four games 15 yellow cards and no red cards have been shown.
So far this season in a total of two games he has shown seven yellow cards and no red cards - 3.5 yellow cards per game.
Assistant Referee: Alf Greenwood
From: Yorkshire
Last three games:
National League North: Saturday 22 Aug 2015 North Ferriby 1–1 Hednesford Town
National League North: Tuesday 18 Aug 2015 Gainsborough T 3–1 Stalybridge Celtic
Championship: Saturday 15 Aug 2015 Huddersfield Town 1–1 Blackburn Rovers (1st assistant)
Assistant Referee: Paul Marsden
From: Lancashire
Last three games:
League Two Saturday 22 Aug 2015 Carlisle United 1 - 1 AFC Wimbledon (1st assistant)
National League North Tuesday 18 Aug 2015 Stockport County 1 - 1 North Ferriby
League One Sunday 16 Aug 2015 Wigan Athletic 0 - 0 Doncaster Rovers (Fourth official)
Fourth Official: James Mainwaring
From: Lancashire
Joe Jones
Notts and Morecambe have only met six times in their history, with the first ever clashi taking place all the way back in... September 2007. It's perfectly even between both sides - two wins, two draws and two defeats.
The last two fixtures between the two are both notable - the first of the two, on 19 September 2009, is Sol Campbell's only game in a Magpies shirt, while the latter, on 17 April 2010, is when Notts secured promotion to League One.
Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however, it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the 1920–21 season.
The fourteen years from 1960 could be said to be Morecambe's golden era. This included an FA Cup third round appearance in 1961–62, a 1–0 defeat to Weymouth; a Lancashire Senior Cup Final victory in 1968, a 2–1 win over Burnley; and an FA Trophy success at Wembley in 1974, a 2–1 win over Dartford in the final.
Morecambe, a non-league side for most of their history, were promoted to the Football League for the first time in 2007 after winning the Conference Playoff Final, beating Exeter City 2–1 at Wembley in front of over 40,000 fans.
Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. While the resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire, due to its railway connection, and Scotland.
Between 1956 and 1989 Morecambe was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.
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Morecambe defender Alan Goodall faces a late fitness test after limping out early in the second half of last week's 3-3 draw at Portsmouth.
Defender Ryan Edwards and midfielder Kevin Ellison are both still ruled out through suspension.
Stanley Aborah is the latest player who must serve a suspension for Notts County, who have had three red cards in their first six league and cup games.
Aborah's absence, however, is a consequence of collecting his fifth yellow card of the season during the Capital One Cup defeat to Aston Villa - he will serve a one-match ban.
With Liam Noble also banned after his dismissal against Accrington and Curtis Thompson and Rob Milsom injured, it leaves Ricardo Moniz with problems in midfield.

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Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

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