Notts County clinch second win in three games away at Luton Town

Another matchday, another gambit of emotions for Notts County fans. First came relief with a solid yet unspectacular win at Crawley. Then despair with a poor performance against AFC Wimbledon. 

And now, delight as the Magpies clinch an impressive 2-0 win away at Luton Town, with former Notts star Alan Sheehan opening the scoring with an own goal before Jon Stead wrapped up all three points with a fantastic solo strike.

The Magpies began the half brightly and piled on the pressure onto their opponents with a succession of set pieces, but the Hatters then upped their game and forced a number of corners, though Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu volleyed over the bar in the 18th minute.

The Hatters succeeded in getting the back into the back of the net on the half-hour mark, but Cameron McGeehan handled the ball in the build-up and accrued a booking for his troubles.

The first half ended with both sides on the attack, as Stead was denied by Elliot Justham and moments later lashed a daisy cutter wide, and at the other end Ruddock Mpanzu had arguably one of the best chances to open the scoring when he was clean through on goal but failed to find the back of the net.

It was a case of backs to the wall for Notts after the restart as Luton were quick off the starting blocks and maintained a good spell of pressure, although Elliott Hewitt very nearly scored from a 50-yard free kick after spotting Justham off his line.

Just before the hour, however, Notts surged into the lead, and it was a bit of a “script moment” as a Magpie surge down the Hatters right was followed up by an effort from Wes Atkinson, which took a hefty deflection off none other than Sheehan before dropping into the net.

Jamie Fullarton’s charges were invigorated after the opening goal, though they still had to watch out when Joe Pigott lined up a shot on the edge of the box, but Haydn Hollis was on hand to block before Carroll claimed.

Midway through the second half it got even better for Notts as Stead picked up the ball in midfield and drove at the Luton defence single-handed before slotting underneath Justham for his side’s second goal.

The win at Kenilworth Road is Notts County's second win in three games and only the third away win of the season, while Fullarton's away record reads two played, two won, three scored and zero conceded.

Credit to Dan Westwell for the image.

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