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By PON_News
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Notts County roared to the top of the Sky Bet League Two table on Saturday afternoon with a fantastic 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley at Meadow Lane.
The win, their third in a row, puts them in first place after six games in the fourth tier, and goes a long way into giving belief in their campaign for back-to-back promotions.
An early header by Dan Crowley was soon cancelled out by a looping Josh Andrews header, but a sensational brace from Macauley Langstaff in the second half put County in the driving seat on the way to three massive points. Only one change was made between the two sides, both of whom followed 2–1 victories over Tranmere Rovers and Salford City into this game, with just Jay Rich-Baghuelou absent for the visitors in change with Joe Gubbins at the back.
The action at Meadow Lane got off to a flying start, firstly as a simple cross into the area by Accrington was fumbled by Aidan Stone, but the goalkeeper recovered in time as Whalley looked to divert home inside the first two minutes. Notts managed to shake the scare off and soon had the ball in the back of the net, as a wonderful recycled cross by Jodi Jones met the head of Dan Crowley at the back post to give the hosts an early advantage.
Jones had another chance to fire in a cross from the same position immediately after the goal, but he sent that one into the grateful arms of Toby Savin. Accrington were presented with a great opportunity to bite back just before the half-hour mark as a slip from Kyle Cameron allowed Whalley to break in on the right, but his delivery was poor, and it allowed Notts to clear.
They gave away a cheap foul on the flank soon after, though, and a high ball to the back post was headed back over the flailing Stone and into the back of the net, with striker David McGoldrick unable to hack the ball off the line at the death. The goal took the sting out of the game somewhat, with neither side carving out anything clear-cut.
The second half began with County making their way back into control. A sharp bit of footwork from Macauley Langstaff on the right wing saw him squeeze away from Rosaire Longelo, but his cross was cleared away to Palmer who recycled it into a low shot for Jones that fizzed wide. However, Langstaff would not be denied for long as he scored twice in quick succession to put Notts County firmly in control.
Although Accrington Stanley were defeated by Notts County, the winners of last season's National League Play-Off, their missed opportunities were truly regrettable. Josh Andrews equalised for the Reds in the first half, and they had double figures in shots at the Magpies goal but couldn’t grab another. County made sure of victory in the final minute and took three points as they rose to top of the table and Stanley dropped to eighth.
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