McLeod brace and Noble free kick clinch win for Notts against Luton

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.