Noble on the double as Notts claim Huddersfield cup scalp

Notts County have thrown down the gauntlet to both League Two and the League Cup following a stunning 2-1 win over Championship outfit Huddersfield Town in Tuesday’s first round clash at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The Magpies were quickest off the starting blocks as opposition goalkeeper Joe Murphy was called into action early on, racing out of his goal to kick clear as Kyle Da Silva chased Liam Noble's pass, then saving a header from ex-Terrier Jon Stead.

Harry Bunn had the hosts’ first chance in the sixth minute when he let rip with a shot that Roy Carroll smartly palmed away for a corner.

Da Silva then fluffed a great chance to put the visitors ahead after 14 minutes when he fired well wide from Stanley Aborah's dinked pass.

Huddersfield enjoyed a good spell on the half-hour mark as Ishmael Miller had two attempts to open the scoring before Murray Wallace broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when he was left unmarked to head home from a corner.

It then took a timely block by Thierry Audel to deny Nahki Wells before Notts levelled things up through Noble.

De Silva got things underway as he fended off Martin Cranie, before sending a low cross to the edge of the box, where Noble took a touch and smashed beyond goalkeeper Joe Murphy into the corner.

As good as that strike was, it was nothing compared to his second, spotting the Terriers stopper off his line and smashing a truly wonderful lob from 35 yards out which glided delightfully into the net.

With Notts on the front foot, they succeeded in holding on and seeing the game out, although they made things difficult for themselves when Gill Swerts became the second Magpie to see red this season after being adjudged to have deliberately handled the ball.

Ricardo Moniz’s charges, though, held on valiantly until full time, when celebrations broke out as they claimed the scalp of a team two divisions above them and put themselves through to the second round of the cup, where Premier League teams are in the hat.