Match Report: Notts County climb to top of League Two with clinical win over Lincoln City

Notts County's amazing form shows no sign of letting up with a fifth win on the spin, a 4-1 hammering of local rivals Lincoln City at Meadow Lane.

The Imps were quicker out of the starting blocks as Josh Ginnelly saw an effort tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Adam Collin and from the resulting corner, defender Sean Raggett headed over when unmarked.

Kevin Nolan's charges were under the cosh as Lincoln sought the breakthrough, but they found themselves a man down when, 28 minutes in, midfielder Billy Knott was dismissed for a high foot on Ryan Yates.

With seven minutes of the first half remaining, a deep cross from the left by Rob Milsom found its way to Jon Stead, whose shot on the turn took a deflection to wrongfoot opposition goalkeeper Paul Farman.

It didn't take long for Lincoln to draw level after the restart, however, when Josh Ginnelly's delivery was nodded home at the far post by Harry Anderson.

Nolan's Notts are made of stern stuff though, and rather than letting their heads drop, the Magpies went ahead again on 55 minutes.

Stead turned provider, doing well to pick out Matt Tootle in the box, and the eccentric full-back's low drive flew into the bottom corner - cue the slug celebration.

On 71 minutes, Notts found the killer third in spectacular fashion as Elliott Whitehouse was penalised for a foul on the left corner of the penalty area.

Jorge Grant stood over the free kick and, from a tight angle, whipped in one of the most accurate curling shots you will ever see, finding the top-right corner of the Imps via the post.

And for the cherry on top, former Lincoln hero Terry Hawkridge got off the mark for his new club - against his former employers - cutting inside from the left, finding space for himself and curling the ball low past the stranded Farman late on.

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