Match Report: Notts County record consecutive home wins after beating Hartlepool

Notts County have secured their League Two status with five games to go as they recorded their second home win in a row, beating Hartlepool United 1-0 in Tuesday's clash at Meadow Lane.

Both sides were quick off the starting blocks in the first half as the visitors forced a corner after just two minutes, while Notts threatened through Jon Stead and Liam Noble, the former nearly nodding a ball into the path of Izale McLeod but being thwarted by a defender, while the latter came close with a free kick.

Noble came close again in the 37th minute, moments after Hartlepool threatened with an effort that Scott Loach had to save with his legs - ultimately neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.

Mark Cooper's side were the brighter attacking force after the restart as Wes Atkinson and McLeod came close in the opening minutes of the second half, and 53 minutes in, the breakthrough finally came courtesy of Stead, who finished off a pullback from Elliott Hewitt.

The Magpies had to withstand a dangerous flurry midway through the second half as Loach saved from Rob Jones and Noble cleared off the line from the resulting corner, but in the final stages the hosts had the upper hand and were able to see the game out.

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