Notts County came from two goals down against Newport County to clinch an emphatic 4-3 win in a topsy-turvy clash at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies got off to the worst possible start when Mark Byrne curled a free kick over the wall and beyond the reach of Roy Carroll to give the Exiles the lead after just five minutes.

In the tenth minute the visitors struck again as Alex Rodman rifled the ball into the roof of the net, which set off a chorus of boos and jeers from the Meadow Lane faithful.

Ricardo Moniz’s side soon got into gear and began threatening their opponents, before Liam Noble seized on a Joe Day error just after the half-hour mark to take the ball round the Newport players and pick his spot accurately, a goal that was celebrated with gusto by the ex-Carlisle man.

Noble then turned provider just before the break when he smashed a free kick against the post, which Izale McLeod picked up and smashed home to send the Kop into frenzy.

The restart saw both teams battle it out in a bid to get the upper edge, and the fifth goal duly went the way of Notts, with McLeod planting a free header into the far post after a sensational Jon Stead ball.

Seven minutes from time it looked like the visitors had salvaged a point when substitute Scott Boden managed to poke the ball into the Notts net following a goalmouth scramble.

However, with six minutes of stoppage time added on due to an injury to Elliott Hewitt midway through the second half, Noble popped up again to pounce from close range in the final minute of added time and send the home faithful into delirium.

One step forward, two steps back. 

Much like Notts County’s win over Portsmouth was followed up by the humiliating defeat at Man Utd Juniors and a loss against Northampton Town, so has the strong 4-2 win over Barnet been superseded by a 3-1 defeat at Cambridge United, managed by former Notts manager Shaun Derry. The Magpies are certainly having to eat enough humble pie this season to make Bruce Bogtrotter’s consumption of an entire chocolate cake in Matilda seem like antipasti.

The first half was good enough for Notts, as Graham Burke went close early on after being found in the clear by a terrific ball in from the left by Adam Campbell, but the ex-Aston Villa man blasted against the bar and only the flag going up for offside spared his blushes.

Luke Berry then fired wide with a half-chance from the left-hand side soon after for the U’s, while Izale McLeod spurned a decent opportunity for the Magpies midway through the first half when he blazed well over the bar after being first to a poor clearance from Sam Beasant.

Adam Campbell went on to give the visitors the lead on 24 minutes by poking home from close range following a goalmouth scramble after Beasant had produced a fine point-blank save to deny McLeod.

Notts had Roy Carroll to thank for ensuring they remained ahead at the break though, after he palmed away Luke Berry's header from a Jordan Jones corner.

Just five minutes after the restart, however, the hosts has a chance to draw level from the spot after Ben Williamson had been brought down in the box by Alan Smith, and Barry Corr made no mistake with a ferocious penalty into the roof of the net.

Taylor fired a shot into the side netting soon after while Berry saw a 20-yard effort go just over as United asserted their dominance, and in the 77th minute they were ahead in bizarre fashion when Carroll’s clearance hit Williamson and looped over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Berry then settled matters three minutes from time with a cool finish from 15 yards after good work by Williamson to leave Notts fans facing another unpleasant journey back home.

Notts County completely and disgracefully fluffed their lines in front of the nation as they fell to a meek, embarrassing 2-0 defeat away at Salford City in the first round of the FA Cup.

The only solace was that the overblown media love-in regarding the Class of ’92 and Richie Allen’s classy second goal put the focus solely on the achievements of Mini Man Utd as opposed to the clear and obvious failings of what the BBC effectively labelled as nondescript opposition. Were it not for the Man Utd connection of Kevin Pilkington, Alan Smith and Roy Carroll, the coverage may as well have had us in black silhouettes and question marks.

The warning signs were there in the first half as the likes of James Poole, Jordan Hulme and Lewis Hardcastle weighed in with dangerous chances, while the hosts’ overall play was slick and confident, in contrast to a Magpies side that, on the whole, failed to get out of second gear in the opening 45.

Ricardo Moniz’s charges enjoyed a few short bursts of attacking intent, most notably when Mike Edwards fired narrowly wide early on and Thierry Audel’s cross intended for Jon Stead was cleared away by Stephen O'Halloran.

Notts did well to survive the first half unscathed, but just 20 seconds into the second half – after they had kicked off, no less – they were a goal down, in the comical manner of Harry Enfield’s vintage Miles Chormondley-Warner spoof: “And they’re off… and it’s a goal.”

That is literally what happened, as a tentative foray forward by the visitors was halted, sent upfield towards Poole, who bear Audel on the right and whipped a cross into the six-yard box for Webber to slide past Roy Carroll and into the net, all within less than half a minute.

Trailing 1-0, it almost got even worse for the Magpies, Hulme firing against the crossbar on 57 minutes after seizing onto a pass from O'Halloran and slicing through a lacklustre Notts defence like butter.

Webber then went close to doubling his tally, racing onto the ball inside the box and forcing Carroll into a good save at his near post.

Notts, however, came within a whisker of getting back level when a clearance struck Adam Campbell and trickled towards goal, but agonisingly for the Black and White Army, Andy Dawson ran back to clear off the line.

Then came the humiliating sucker punch. Allen claimed the ball and headed towards the left-hand byline, drawing three Notts defenders towards him. A deft Cruyff turn was all it took to put the trio completely out of action and, after a somewhat flaky one-two, he recovered to curl the ball past Carroll and send the BBC… I mean, send the home crowd completely barmy.

Notts knew they were down and out, struggling to see out the game without conceding yet again as they made their non-league opponents seem like a top-flight side. As I said before, it was almost a relief that all the focus was on Salford, because it somewhat masked the fact that Notts were awful.

And it’s not just us saying it – Colin Slater called the team a “disgrace”, while Mark Stallard – one of Notts County’s greatest players of the last 15 years – described them as “inept”, “abject” and embarrassing”.

Enough said.

Notts County came through their biggest test of the season thus far with flying colours as they held on to clinch a 2-1 win over high-flying Portsmouth at Meadow Lane for their sixth home win in seven.

The visitors created two good chances in the first 10 minutes as Adam Webster headed inches wide from Ben Davies’ corner before Adam McGurk’s through ball freed Gareth Evans, but Roy Carroll was equal to his effort.

Ricardo Moniz’s side replied with Izale McLeod and Graham Burke forcing Brian Murphy into two quickfire stops, but Pompey took the lead through Caolan Lavery after 20 minutes as he guided home Enda Stevens’s cross from a couple of yards out.

County were not behind for long, however, came a couple of minutes later with an Alan Sheehan free kick cleared only as far as Graham Burke, who volleyed home from the edge of the box to put his side level.

Portsmouth's response was swift and Lavery almost restored his side’s lead with a near-post drive that was beaten away by Carroll, who in turn then palmed Adam Webster's shot onto the post.

In the second half the Magpies gained the advantage as a long free kick from Sheehan was not dealt with and went straight past Murphy to send the home crowd wild.

Paul Cook’s side responded admirably and ensured a scary, nail-biting finale to the game, appropriate given the date, but there was a happy ending for Notts fans as they secured a first win against a top ten side this season.

Notts County managed to secure a second successive away point by holding Exeter City to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

The hosts dominated proceedings in the first 20 minutes, Tom Nichols firing wide from distance following Jack Barmby’s dispossession at the hands of David Wheeler.

In the 25th minute the Grecians took the lead in controversial circumstances when Izale McLeod was brought down in midfield by a clumsy challenge from Joel Grant, but despite the incident happening in front of referee Graham Salisbury, play was allowed to continue.

The ball was soon switched to Nichols, who curled a shot into the right corner of the net, giving Roy Carroll no chance.

Notts players were furious with the match official, but they responded well and found themselves back on terms by the break.

First Liam Noble’s close-range strike was blocked by Jordan Moore-Taylor and then Adam Campbell dinked a cross to the back post for McLeod to head an effort against the post.

The equaliser finally arrived when Jon Stead did superbly to nod the ball into the path of Noble, who controlled with his chest and volleyed past goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

It could have been worse for the Grecians before the break as McLeod turned Jordan Tillson too easily on the edge of the box and brought a good save out of the stopper.

Nicholls had the first chance of the second half as his shot from just inside the area was charged down, but after that the visitors started to look the more threatening.

First Alan Sheehan headed goalwards from a corner, forcing David Noble to clear the ball off the line, and then Olejnik had to produce another good stop to deny McLeod a chance to put the Magpies ahead.

The visitors then had appeals for a penalty turned down when a City player appeared to have handled the ball in the box, before Jon Stead was crowded out in the area just as he was about to fire at goal from the edge of the six-yard box.

Both sides stepped it up a gear in the latter stages of the game in a bid to find a winner, but neither side could find the breakthrough as Ricardo Moniz’s side made it three games unbeaten and remained 16th in the League Two table, with 19 points from 15 games.

Notts County secured a valuable point at the Memorial Stadium as they held a dangerous Bristol Rovers at bay on the way to a goalless stalemate.

The hosts’ first chance came courtesy of Ellis Harrison, who picked up a pass from Lee Brown and fashioned a shot that was blocked by Elliot Hewitt.

On five minutes, unmarked skipper Mark McChrystal got himself in a good position from a Jake Gosling corner, only to put the ball over from ten yards.

Rovers came then closest to a goal in first-half stoppage time when Billy Bodin's right-footed shot from 12 yards following a corner cannoned back off Roy Carroll's crossbar.

Notts improved defensively as the game progressed, but rarely threatened. An Izale McLeod shot from 20 yards, deflected narrowly wide on 53 minutes, was the closest they came.

Jermaine Easter, whose red card at Mansfield Town on Saturday was rescinded on appeal, appeared as a second half substitute for Rovers and grazed the crossbar with a 73rd minute shot.

Late on, Rovers won another free-kick in a promising position after Daniel Leadbitter was hacked down by Mawouna Amevor, but again the visitors stood firm to complete a frustrating night for Rovers and remain five points away from the League Two playoffs.

Notts County ended a run of three straight defeats and made it five wins out of six at Meadow Lane with a 2-0 win over Yeovil Town, a result that sees the Magpies climb to 15th in League Two and five points away from the playoffs.

The Magpies showed their attacking threat early on as Elliott Hewitt and Izale McLeod both had speculative shots, their side dominating possession with a high defensive line as the Glovers struggled to get out of their half.

Little happened in the early stages of the game, though Matthew Dolan made a hash of a half-volley from 20 yards, while Adam Campbell played McLeod clean through on goal, but the ex-Crawley man struck the post.

It was then Campbell's turn to hit the woodwork with a swerving shot-cum-cross before Liam Noble forced Artur Krysiak to punch away a vicious 30-yard drive.

The second half continued in a similar vein as Notts poured forward and fittingly it was the impressive Stanley Aborah who broke the deadlock.

After Wes Fogden had brought down the midfielder just outside the area, he stepped up to take the free kick and, courtesy of a deflection off the wall, it wrongfooted Krysiak and bundled into the back of the net.

County’s lead was doubled not long after as a clearance from Mike Edwards was cleverly flicked on by Alan Smith, and McLeod rushed in to beat Krysiak with a ferocious drive.

Campbell almost made it 3-0 midway through the second half as he went in one-on-one himself, but Krysiak did well to close him down. At the other end, Dolan had a shot blocked and Connor Roberts tested Carroll for the first time in the game.

Ultimately, Yeovil proved no match for Ricardo Moniz’s side, who made it an enjoyable afternoon for the home faithful.

In what has so far proved a very mediocre season far below expectations, Notts had an impressive home form to refer to at least.

This sadly, has now taken a knock after Plymouth Argyle claimed a 2-0 victory at Meadow Lane, with Reuben Reid notching up a brace to bring an end to a run of four straight wins at home for the Magpies.

Reid got the game's opener 18 minutes in, turning into space before firing into the far corner of Scott Loach's goal, with the hosts nearly levelling moments later when Graham Burke latched onto Elliott Hewitt’s cutback but crashed against the post.

Liam Noble then came close with a header at the back post, before Burke tested goalkeeper Luke McCormick with a ferocious low drive.

Notts continued to attack in the second half but could not find a way past the resolute Pilgrims defence, as Burke failed to convert from two decent chances, putting a header over the bar before lashing wide inside the box.

In the latter stages of the clash, Reid struck again for Plymouth, breaking the offside trap and seeing his first effort saved by Loach before firing in from the rebound to hand his side all three points.

Ricardo Moniz’s side moves down a place to 16th in the League Two table, while Derek Adams’s team edges up to the top of the standings.

Another away day, another defeat, this one more embarrassing than most as Notts fell to a humbling 5-1 defeat at Sheffield United, with the only sliver of positivity coming from the fact that, rather than being in the league, it was in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Jose Baxter opened the scoring at Bramall Lane from the spot in the 20th minute after Jamal Campbell-Ryce was brought down by Thierry Audel in the box, prompting the referee to award the home side a penalty.

Liam Noble went close to equalising not long after when his chip beat Blades goalkeeper George Long, but the ball cannoned off the bar and out.

Just three minutes after their first goal, United doubled their lead when Matt Done beat the offside trap to find himself one-on-one with Scott Loach, and with the stopper rushing out, a simple lob was all it took to get the ball into the back of the net.

And by the break the hosts had notched up a third goal when Baxter scored his second penalty after Haydn Hollis fouled Che Adams, leaving the Magpies with an Everest-sized mountain to climb.

Ricardo Moniz’s side set about trying to get back into the game and looked like they were on the right track when substitute Jon Stead bundled the ball in from close range after connecting with a low cross from Elliott Hewitt.

Stefan Scougall, however, restored United's three-goal advantage in the 67th minute with a neat finish from inside the area.

And on 74 minutes things truly turned farcical when Notts gifted their opponents a third penalty, with Hollis receiving his marching orders for his foul on Adams in the box, and the man brought down opted to do the honours himself, putting his side 5-1 up – and so the game would finish.

Notts County’s travel sickness continues to take hold of the boys in black and white as Leyton Orient claimed their first win in six games as they beat the beleaguered visitors 3-1 at Brisbane Road.

The Magpie faithful were astounded by the news that Ricardo Moniz had made nine changes to his seemingly functional line-up prior to the game, the kind of move only carried out following heavy defeats or change of competition level (say league to cup or friendly).

Midfielder Sammy Moore opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark when he sprung the offside trap to rifle the ball past Magpies goalkeeper Scott Loach from close range. This would be his first goal in an Orient shirt since his summer move from AFC Wimbledon.

Having dominated the first half, the hosts were then rocked when Notts equalised mere seconds into the second period, with Jon Stead finding himself unmarked at the far post following some neat play from Alan Smith and Adam Campbell and drilling home.

Orient, however, regained the advantage in the 79th minute after substitute Blair Turgott found Sean Clohessy, whose shot was parried by Loach straight to the feet of Jay Simpson for his seventh league goal of the campaign.

The hosts went on to kill the game off seven minutes from time with a wonderful strike from Moore, who smashed the ball into the top-right corner from around 30 yards out for their third goal and all three points.

Though Notts County have improved at home no end, it remains a different story on the road, with another game in which the Magpies relinquished the lead – though at least this time we were able to hang onto a point at Dagenham & Redbridge, the final result a 1-1 draw.

In a game of few chances, Adam Campbell went on to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark after receiving possession on the left, weaving into the box and coolly slotting the ball into the far corner for his first goal of the season.

Ayo Obileye went close with a half-volley just before the hour after his initial free-kick from 30 yards hit the wall.

Campbell then nearly doubled his side's lead in the 71st minute, only for O'Brien to brilliantly deny him a second from close range,

He would rue that failed opportunity because, only moments later, the impressive Jodi Jones marauded forward, cut inside onto his left foot and curled a wonderful effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Notts had a great chance to edge back in front when Jack Barmby was fouled in the Daggers box, prompting the referee to award the visitors a penalty.

Izale McLeod stepped up, but his spot-kick was saved by O'Brien before being cleared out for a throw-in, the chance subsequently disappearing.

Jon Stead came on McLeod soon after and the former Huddersfield striker almost clinched a winner when a powerful 20-yard drive hit the inside of the post, but ultimately the Magpies had to settle for a share of the spoils.

All of a sudden, the outlook at Notts County is much rosier – four wins on the spin at home, a climb up to 13th place in League Two, and best of all, just one point off the playoffs!

A good, if frustrating, day at the office saw the Magpies register possibly the lowest-scoring thrashing in recent years as, despite a dominant display, they sealed a 1-0 win against York City.

Ricardo Moniz’s charges started brilliantly, with Izale McLeod showing his quality by weighing in with a number of dangerous efforts in the first ten minutes alone.

He didn’t have to wait much longer to break the deadlock, however, finally getting onto the scoresheet in the 12th minute when opposition goalkeeper Scott Flinders completely misjudged a seemingly routine Liam Noble punt to leave the ex-Crawley man with an open goal, in which he nonchalantly slotted the ball.

Notts continued to dominate proceedings on the pitch but a second strike evaded them, which nearly saw them pegged back when James Berrett’s drive forced Roy Carroll into a great save.

The hosts continued from where they had left off in the second half but again failed to get the ball into the back of the net for a second time, with Mike Edwards connecting with the post and Adam Campbell forcing Flinders into a low save.

Gauging the home side’s increasing tension, York piled forward and could have struck back through David Tutonda and Anthony Straker, but unlike their game against Wimbledon, they managed to see this game out and claim their second three points of the week.

Well, what a relief. When Notts fell behind at home to Crawley Town, it looked like it was going to be a long evening. Instead, it turned out to be a very pleasant one, as the Magpies came from behind to rattle four goals past the visitors and clinch an emphatic, if not completely straightforward, 4-1 win at Meadow Lane.

Mark Yates’s side weathered the early storm and countered through Lewis Young, who was left with just Gill Swerts and Roy Carroll en route to goal, but the Belgian did enough to dispossess him.

Luke Rooney then picked up the ball outside the area and drifted into dangerous territory, but his near-post strike was brilliantly saved by the Northern Irish stopper.

Crawley kept on coming and eventually took the lead through Rhys Murphy, who seized on a miscued clearance which cannoned off Bobson Bawling and into the debutant’s path, before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Just after the half-hour mark Ricardo Moniz’s charges were level when a long throw ghosted through the Red Devils defence and into the path of Mike Edwards, who glanced a header into the far corner.

And just moments after the restart, Liam Noble latched on to Adam Campbell’s pass and curled a rocket into the top corner to put the hosts in the lead, much to the relief of the home faithful.

It would get even better just after the restart when Izale McLeod was fouled in the Crawley box, prompting the referee to award the Magpies a penalty, which Noble duly rifled past goalkeeper Freddie Woodman for a third home goal.

Notts were dominant by this stage and piled on the pressure time and time again, getting their just reward late on through Steady Eddie, who raced to the near post to thump in a header from Noble's corner.

Crawley were down and out at this stage, and despite a few audacious forays into Notts’s final third, they were unable to get any more goals as the final whistle blew on an emphatic Notts victory.

It feels surprisingly familiar what happened today at Kingsmeadow, with Notts County leading until the latter stages of the game against Wimbledon yet succumbing to a 2-1 defeat by the time the final whistle was blown.

The Magpies started brightly and saw Genaro Snijders volley wide of the post before Stanley Aborah fired a low effort just wide.

Adam Campbell was next to try his luck as he cut inside and forced a save from James Shea through a deflected shot.

Eventually Ricardo Moniz’s side took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when a free kick from Graham Burke was nodded home by defender Haydn Hollis.

The visitors then made a bright start to the second half as Adam Campbell’s cross for Izale McLeod was glanced just over, while Liam Noble’s long-range strike forced a good save from Shea.

Wimbledon, however, grew into the game after the restart and were soon dominating proceedings on the pitch, getting their just rewards five minutes from time when George Francomb's cross was converted by Bulman at the back post.

And then, almost predictably, Notts threw the game away right at the death as Adebayo Akinfenwa nodded in a cross from the right wing to loot the win.

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.

Notts County gave their fans something to cheer about in the form of a much-needed good performance, capped off with a comprehensive win over a local rival to whom they'd lost badly a few weeks prior, and finished off with cup progress and positive hopes for the next few games.

Sure, it was "just", as some say, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, but nevertheless Notts claimed a solid 3-1 win over Mansfield Town - the opposition goal only scored from the spot in the 95th minute - which has gone some way towards changing the fans' outlook from glum to something brighter.

Notts started well, with opposition goalkeeper Brian Jensen having to pluck two crosses from the air and winning a race to the ball in the opening stages, while Graham Burke saw a shot blocked in the eighth minute.

The Magpies came close to opening the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark when Adam Campbell cut into the box from the left and rifled an effort against the post.

Jensen was once again involved when Jon Stead breached the Stags defence in the 25th minute, frantically getting down to claim the ball.

Ten minutes before the break, however, the visitors had a sterling chance of their own when McGuire sent Yussuf through one-on-one with Loach, only to see the keeper turn the ball behind for a corner.

An extended period of pressure from Mansfield followed, but Notts ended the first half strongly as Wes Atkinson fired across the face of goal and Haydn Hollis headed just wide of target.

Gill Swerts picked up an injury at the break, prompting veteran Mike Edwards to take his place on the pitch, but this didn’t affect Notts as they picked up from where they left off.

On 47 minutes, the impressive Campbell played a one-two with Stead to carve the Stags back line open, but Jensen palmed the ball out for a corner, which Edwards subsequently nodded over.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 52 minutes and, much to the relief of the increasingly nervous Notts fans, it fell their way as Izale McLeod was played through on goal before the move was finished off with a cute chip over Jensen and into the net.

Mansfield upped gear and pressed forward in a bid to force an equaliser, but with 11 minutes to go the hosts doubled their lead, courtesy of Steady Eddy himself, who got onto a loose ball following a scramble in the box and slotted between Jensen’s legs.

A cathartic, redemptive evening was confirmed in the 90th minute as Stead’s 20-yard free kick took a heavy deflection and wrongfooted the Stags stopper en route to the back of the net.

Mansfield did manage a late consolation as Edwards brought down Craig Westcarr in the last of five added minutes for a penalty, which the ex-Notts man converted, but it was too little too late as the final whistle blew on a solid victory which made amends for the league defeat just weeks ago.

A lacklustre and wasteful Notts side were torn apart at the Globe Arena on Saturday by a patchwork Morecambe side that, despite missing a number of key players and seeing several more subbed off with injuries, still ran four goals past them.

It was a frantic start from the visitors at the Globe Arena as Adam Campbell twice forced saves from goalkeeper Barry Roche and whistled a cross across the face of goal.

There was action at the other end too with Aaron Wildig’s lob from 20 yards causing Roy Carroll to back-pedal frantically, though he was lucky to see the ball land on the roof of the net.

Morecambe went on to take the lead 20 minutes in when Alan Goodall was given way too much time and space on the ball, leading to a 25-yard drive which flew beyond Carroll and into the net.

The visitors were inches from pulling level on the half-hour mark but after a fine one-two on the edge of the area Jon Stead cannoned his subsequent shot off the crossbar with Roche stranded.

Five minutes before the break, however, Genaro Snijders gave the travelling fans a moment to savour - and at the time, cause for hope - when the ball dropped to him 20 yards out and he responded by lashing a ferocious volley into the top corner of the net.

Having lost captain Shaun Beeley towards the end of the first period, Shrimpers manager Jim Bentley was also forced to replace Wildig at the break.

Morecambe found themselves on the back foot in shortly after the restart, but grew into their revised three-at-the-back system, Jamie Devitt slicing wide from just inside the box.

Ricardo Moniz's charges continued to press the issue but were sucker-punched when, against the run of play, Paul Mullin bore down on goal from the left and curled a shot beyond Carroll.

The visitors immediately went in search of an equaliser, with Campbell blazing wide from 15 yards and Stead forcing a save from Roche with a volley.

Two minutes from time it was all over as Alex Kenyon was given free rein to blaze into the area and slot the ball through the legs of Carroll.

Then, on the 90-minute mark, Devitt added gloss to the scoreline and stuck a further knife into the pride of the travelling fans by beating the offside trap and helping himself to another goal of utter simplicity.

Mullin nearly made it five in stoppage time but saw his shot from the edge of the area whistle over the crossbar, but by this time the point had been hammered down - Notts are ill-equipped and ill-prepared for life in this league.

Notts County came to Aston Villa, they saw plenty of chances, and they very nearly conquered. They took the Premier League outfit all the way, leading not once, not twice but three times in the game. An outrageous refereeing decision ultimately proved the Magpies’ downfall as the hosts survived the regulation 90 minutes with the scoreline poised at 3-3, before toughing out the period of extra time and making the most of the visitors' increasingly tired legs to sneak an extra two goals and claim a 5-3 win.

It was a game that toed the script as Jack Grealish shone on his homecoming performance against the club where he cut his teeth and ex-Villa man Graham Burke nearly grabbed the win against his former employers with a stunning 30-yard strike.

The Magpies began the game well, more than holding their own against their top-flight opponents, but few could have predicted just how far they’d go in such a short space of time when, in the 16th minute, Alan Hutton gave the ball away near his own box, allowing Genaro Snijders to pick up possession and curl a shot into the net, via a deflection, from 20 yards.

It looked like business would resume as usual just five minutes later as Grealish, so impressive for Notts when he played on loan two seasons ago, weaved into the box before squaring to Adama Traore, who duly converted with a low finish to level proceedings.

With both sides poised to go in level at the break, however, Izale McLeod’s burst into the Villa was thwarted by goalkeeper Mark Bunn, the foul prompting the referee to give the visitors a penalty. Jon Stead stepped up and duly fired home from the spot to give his side the lead on the stroke of half time.

Grealish was the key man once again for Villa’s second equaliser shortly after the restart, the young winger setting off on a superb run before playing a low cross in for Scott Sinclair to tap into an empty net.

A topsy turvy game in every sense of the word, Ricardo Moniz’s charges simply wouldn’t let it go, and for the third time in the game took the lead – in absolutely spectacular fashion, as former Villa man Burke let rip with a ferocious shot, just before the hour, all of 30 yards away which ricocheted off the underside of the bar and into the net. Cue delirium in the away end.

Every classic football game, however, needs some controversy added into the mix, which duly came when Stanley Aborah’s seemingly clean tackle on Kieran Richardson in the box saw the ex-Manchester United man tumble to the ground and the referee point to the spot.

Sinclair stepped up to the spot and, despite Roy Carroll going the right way, the penalty was just too powerful, flying into the net and pegging Villa back for the third time in the match.

Villa stepped it up in the latter stages of the game in normal time but weren't able to finish Notts off in the 90 minutes of normal time, so extra time it was.

In the first period of the added half hour, the hosts edged themselves in front for the first time in the entire game when Sinclair converted Joe Cole’s low cross from close range to clinch his hat-trick.

As legs tired and spaces opened up, Jimmy Spencer spurned a great chance to make it 4-4 when he poked wide from Julian Jenner’s cross, while at the other end Sinclair’s chip flew off target when clean through on goal with only Carroll to beat.

Despite this, the superior stamina and endurance of the Premier League side proved crucial in the late, late stages of the game as substitute Joe Bennett clinched the win by marauding to the edge of the box before firing a low shot into the far corner of the net.

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Notts County’s wait for a home win this season continues after Accrington Stanley showed Meadow Lane exactly who they are when they scored a 90th-minute equaliser to nick a 1-1 draw.

The Magpies started off well with Jon Stead having two early efforts blocked while Seamus Conneely had a looping strike deflected wide for Stanley all in the opening two minutes.

Ricardo Moniz’s charges almost opened the scoring in the 18th minute when lively Graham Burke’s long-range strike cannoned off the crossbar and fell to Genaro Snijders, who sliced the rebound over the bar.

Josh Windass then fired a 20-yard free kick straight to Roy Carroll, while Stanley Aborah’s tackle on Matt Crooks 35 minutes in led to the Ghanaian-Belgian being shown a yellow card.

The visitors came close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half time when Piero Mingoia raced clean through on goal, but Carroll denied him with his legs. At the other end, Noble’s effort on the stroke of half time was tipped over by goalkeeper Jason Mooney.

Following the restart, the Stanley stopper denied Campbell with his legs after the winger latched onto a looping ball over the top on 49 minutes, while on the hour, Snijders raced through on goal but was also thwarted.

Notts kept the pressure on and came close midway through the second half through Burke’s troubling cross, which was punched away, and Noble’s 20-yard free kick, which flew just wide.

In the 76th minute it looked like the hosts had done enough when a cross from Noble was emphatically headed home by Burke from just a few yards out.

Sadly it wasn’t to be, as Noble was dismissed with three minutes left for a challenge on Windass that took the player out and was deemed to have an intent to stamp.

In the 90th minute Stanley clawed back their equaliser when Sean McConville’s corner bobbled around the area before being finished off by Matt Crooks.

It could have been worse for Notts as Terry Gornell and Mingoia came close in injury-time for the visitors, but ultimately the final whistle signalled a sharing of the spoils, with Notts having to take yet another red card and subsequent match suspension into account as well as a loss of two points and a poor patch of form.

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Just one week ago we were celebrating Notts County's tremendous start to the season. But "Stevenage" and "Huddersfield" are words long cast out of the Magpie lexicon, replaced with "Mansfield" and now "Oxford" as words laden with negativity and doubt.

Notts had the chance to redeem their horrendous home defeat to Mansfield with a trip to Oxford United, but all that was achieved was another inadequate performance, another defeat and an increased level of despair that has left the Black and White Army positively dreading the rest of the season.

The Magpies didn't exactly get off to the best start as the U's weighed in with a number of chances, but the visitors managed to break the deadlock in the 21st minute when Thierry Audel nodded in Graham Burke's inswinging free-kick at the back post.

Jon Stead also cracked a shot from long range just over Sam Slocombe's crossbar, prompting Oxford manager Michael Appleton to replace Patrick Hoban with Callum O'Dowda just after the half-hour mark.

It proved an inspired change and within four minutes the substitute snuck in at the back post to nudge the ball past Roy Carroll from eight yards to level the scores.

Four minutes into the second half he would once again have an effect on the game as his low cross was completely miscued by Scot Bennett, leaving Kemar Roofe to slam the ball into the net.

From then on it was all Oxford, who threatened time and time again, and in the 57th minute they had a chance to put the game beyond their opponents when Danny Hylton was brought down in the area for a penalty.

Carroll then gave the travelling fans cause for cheer when he dived low to save from Alex MacDonald's spot kick, keeping the Magpies in the game.

This would only turn out to be a temporary reprieve, however, and by 78th minute it was all over for Notts.

Hylton dribbled all of 50 yards to present himself with a chance at goal, and even though Carroll saved the initial effort, the striker converted on the rebound.

After three games Notts find themselves 14th in the table, with one win and two defeats. The way things are going, and with the football we're playing, many fans will happily take that come the final whistle of the 46th league game.

Join the conversation, voice your opinions on the game and find out what fellow Notts fans think with Pride of Nottingham's dedicated matchday forum.

Credit to Dan Westwell for the match photo.

Amazing how quickly a positive atmosphere can evaporate, eh?

Following Notts County’s great start to the season, which saw a solid 2-0 win at Stevenage and a stunning 2-1 win at Championship side Huddersfield in the League Cup, more than seven thousand Notts fans came through the Meadow Lane turnstiles to watch what they hoped would be a gutsy, positive and possibly fruitful performance from the Magpies against Mansfield Town, their local rivals.

At 9:45pm, what we ended up with was a nearly funereal mood as Notts were outplayed, outmuscled and outscored on our own patch, with nearly three thousand Stags fans going barmy in the away end – and rightfully so, given that their team cruised to an ultimately straightforward 2-0 win.

Defeats are always hard to swallow, but by including the fact that the performance was so meek, so bland, and that it was against a bitter rival that will now claim bragging rights, it makes it all the more difficult.

Inevitably the early stages were all about getting stuck in, something that Mansfield were always going to do. Three crunching tackles came in the first two minutes, with Nathan Thomas’s clatter with Civard Sprockel saw the latter rolling around in agony and the former shown an early yellow card.

On six minutes, the visitors could have easily gone ahead after Thierry Audel gifted the ball to Chapman. He found Matt Green, who set up Nathan Thomas in front of goal, but Roy Carroll pulled off a wonderful save, flinging his body in the way and deflecting the ball onto the bar.

Notts could barely get out their own half for the first quarter-hour as Mansfield pressed emphatically, but on 18 minutes they had their first concrete chance as a Hunt clearance clipped Pearce and landed in the path of Julian Jenner, whose powerful shot whizzed wide of the side netting.

Sprockel was then booked three minutes later for handling on the edge of the box, and Ryan Tafazolli was then booked for infringement, clattering into Carroll and dropping him into the net.

Stanley Aborah set up Notts' best move of the half when he released Jenner to lash a low ball into the box which Jon Stead connected with, drawing a good save from opposition stopper Brian Jensen.

For Notts’s occasional flashes of quality, Mansfield fully deserved their lead when it came nine minutes before the break. Green released Clements into the box, and the latter bore down on goal and curled a low effort into Carroll’s bottom-right corner, sending the away contingent into delirium and the home fans into mourning.

A double change for Notts ensued at the break when Jimmy Spencer replaced Curtis Thompson and Graham Burke came on for Kyle Da Silva on the left wing, the intended formation a 4-4-2.

The tone was set for the rest of the evening when Sprockel suffered an injury just three minutes after the restart, as Haydn Hollis had to be subbed on. Notts had no more substitutions left.

Despite this hindering situation, Notts began the second half brightly as Spencer shot over and Jenner drew a decent save from Jensen.

At the other end, Green set up Thomas for a shot from a right angle that Carroll was forced to turn round at the near post.

The action yo-yoed between the two sides for a period as, on 53 minutes, County’s best move so far saw Stead send Jenner in on goal, Jensen smothering his low finish.

In the 67th minute, Green was inches away from being able to reach a Jack Thomas cross from the left and head home from close range.

Notts then countered with Burke cutting a low cross into the path of Spencer, and a tap-in is all it would have taken to put us level – but Malvind Benning bailed Mansfield out with a stunning sliding interception on the line.

The Pies soon cooled down and ran out of steam as the persevering Stags struck their match-killer with nine minutes to go, Benning whipping a long free kick from the left and Tafazolli rising virtually unmarked to head home just inside the post.

Many Notts fans had seen enough at this point and, over the next ten minutes, seats were vacated, while some trouble flared up at the far-left end of the Kop after it appeared that a Mansfield fan ran across to start a fight.

The Kop faithful all turned to watch the action on their left, well aware that, by that point, there was nothing really worth watching on the pitch any more. Notts had been defeated. There was little to suggest that they could pull back even just one goal, and when the final whistle blew, the procession out of the ground began.

It’s early days, of course, but given that the last few years have been dross for many of the home-attending Notts fans, and with hopes and expectations sky-high for those entering Meadow Lane on Friday evening, this was not good enough.

Ricardo Moniz and his charges will need to go back to the drawing board, because in League Two, many teams will play how Mansfield did - and if we keep playing to their tactics and meekly surrendering, they will win like Mansfield did.

(Credit to Dan Westwell for the image - and congrats on the result, you totally deserve it)

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.