Notts County 2 - 0 Mansfield Town

Yes, you could argue it was a game against lower league opposition, in a second-rate competition. But nevertheless, it was the perfect response to Sunday's last-gasp defeat at Bristol City, it was a good runout for some of our fringe players, and crucially, it gives us bragging rights over a local rival.

Notts County put in a good performance against Mansfield Town, two players getting themselves on the scoresheet to beat the Stags 2-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this evening.

The away side arguably began the game more eagerly, in a bid to give a good opening account of themselves away against higher-ranked opposition, but it didn't take long for Notts to gain a foothold into the game, going on to dominate possession and pushing forward.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, Ronan Murray blasted a powerful low shot towards goal, which was skilfully deflected by Dimitar Evtimov and out for the first of two consecutive corners.

A few minutes later, Reece Brown was next to threaten the Stags fort with a long-range effort that flew wide, while Murray saw two efforts desperately blocked in the 19th minute.

It wasn't until midway through the first half that Mansfield were able to trouble the Magpies net, a Simon Heslop free kick curling just wide.

County, or more accurately Murray, kept plugging away, and eventually, on the half-hour mark, got their just desserts.

The Irish boy wonder received the ball following some great link-up play on the left-hand side before firing home for the first goal of the match.

By this point, it was all Notts. Jake Cassidy went on to blast into the side netting just a few minutes after the goal, while Brown thumped a header just slightly off target in the 34th minute.

Mansfield were more fired up at the start of the second half, and could have scored ten minutes after the restart when Matt Rhead headed wide, shortly followed by an Alex Fisher shot that had to be saved by stand-in stopper Fabian Spiess.

Chris Clements was next to sully the German youngster's fists, courtesy of a corner in the 57th minute.

For their improvements, however, Mansfield would not be able to reap any benefits in the latter stages of the game, because in the 65th minute, Cassidy was able to latch onto a low free-kick, beat his marker and thump home from close range for that all-important second goal.

Mansfield, to their credit, weren't quite down and out just yet - Ollie Palmer gave Spiess a fright in the 74th minute, the young keeper having to pull off a smart save from the Stags man.

However, the away side weren't able to mount a comeback, and with the game petering out towards the late, late stages, Notts fans could sit comfortably and not have to bite any fingernails - a rare occurrence even at this early point in the season - before the final whistle blew on a solid 2-0 win and progress to the second round of this cup competition.