Notts County continue to march on in their quest for promotion from League Two with a solid 3-1 win over Cheltenham Town in Saturday's game at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies were quick out of the starting blocks against the Robins, who were 16th in the table at kickoff, with Terry Hawkridge forcing a chested block from goalkeeper Scott Flinders after just three minutes.

Jorge Grant and Ryan Yates then weighed in with efforts which were blocked as the visitors struggled to weather the hosts' attacking play, while Shaun Brisley hit the side netting.

Jon Stead was next to threaten as he rifled narrowly wide after turning to collect a far post header back across goal, and Matt Tootle's swerving drive forced another save from Flinders.

Eventually Kevin Nolan's charges broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark as Carl Dickinson’s crossfield pass into the box was headed down to Stead, who sized up a shot but instead decided to lay the ball off for Grant.

It proved the correct decision as the Nottingham Forest loanee side-footed the ball into the top corner of the Cheltenham net to put the Magpies ahead.

However, the visitors drew level out of the blue just five minutes later, the Notts defence guilty of switching off as Carl Winchester and Kyle Storer exchanged passes before the former drilled a low effort into the bottom corner.

It could have gotten even worse for Notts in the second half as Cheltenham turned the screw and Harry Pell hit the top of the crossbar from a cross with Ross Fitzsimons struggling to scramble back.

The new Notts, however, have more grit about them and, on 52 minutes, the unplayable Grant grabbed his 13th of the season when his 25-yard free kick took a heavy deflection and wrong-footed Flinders en route to the back of the net.

And just two minutes later, a two-goal lead was established through Shaun Brisley, who finished off a move begun by a corner flicked on at the near post by Richard Duffy into his fellow defender's path, heading home to send Meadow Lane into a frenzy.

Notts continued to push forward and Jorge Grant came close to sealing what would have been a well-deserved hat-trick when he weaved through the Robins defence but couldn't get the ball past Flinders.

And although Cheltenham mounted a late fight-back, they couldn't get so much as a second goal to make things nervy as the Magpies saw the game out and built up their lead at the top of the table.

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Notts County have come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Stevenage but were unlucky not to get all three points in Saturday's League Two encounter at Broadhall Way.

Having made widescale changes in the midweek defeat to Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy, Kevin Nolan reinstated all but one of the players who took part in the 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup.

The only change in the starting XI from last Friday's game was Shola Ameobi, who was omitted from the squad altogether, Lewis Alessandra taking his place.

Notts were first to apply the pressure in the game, but the Stevenage defence stood firm as Ryan Yates fired an effort from range that was charged down.

Stevenage countered through Tom Pett, who blasted over from range, and Danny Newton, who saw his looping header crash off the crossbar after a delivery from Joe Martin out wide.

The hosts continued to have the better of proceedings and went on to break the deadlock on 40 minutes when the dangerous Danny Newton fired home from 10 yards out after Notts failed to clear their lines following a free kick.

Jorge Grant came close to levelling on the stroke of half time from a free kick after Ryan Yates was clattered just outside Stevenage's area, but the ball went over after skimming the crossbar.

The restart saw Darren Sarll's side continue to threaten and Ross Fitzsimons had to be alert to keep out an effort at his near post after Newton had been played into the area with a dangerous ball over the top.

However, Notts soon upped their game and weighed in with key chances of their own, Jorge Grant coming close on two occasions in quick succession.

Eventually Kevin Nolan's charges found the equaliser and Grant played a key role, pouncing on a loose ball to charge down the left-hand side before cutting the ball back into the centre, where Elliott Hewitt claimed and slotted home.

From then on it was mostly one-way traffic as Yates, Grant, Jon Stead and Terry Hawkridge all came close to getting that crucial second goal, but ultimately the hosts held on for a share of the spoils.

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Notts County are in the hat for the second round of the FA Cup after coming from two goals down to clinch a stunning 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers in Friday night's first-round clash at Meadow Lane.

The game was frantic from the off, with Rory Gaffney rifling just wide in the second minute and, at the other end, Jorge Grant's free kick was hooked over the bar by Terry Hawkridge four minutes later.

In the eighth minute, some dire Magpies defending helped Rovers edge into the lead as Joe Partington's cross from the right fell into the path of the unmarked Liam Sercombe, who nodded home from close range.

And four minutes later, more substandard work from the Notts backline meant that a corner from Chris Lines found Stuart Sinclair unmarked in the six-yard box to plant a header beyond the reach of Ross Fitzsimons.

Credit to the hosts, they quickly found gear after the double setback and, just before the half-hour mark, halved the deficit through Ryan Yates, who made the most of some lacklustre Rovers defending to nod Carl Dickinson's free kick into the back of the net.

Just two minutes later, the Black and White Army at Meadow Lane was sent into a frenzy as Yates struck again, turning home another great Dickinson set piece delivery against the League One side.

Rovers were lucky to get to half time level as Kevin Nolan's side looked threatening every time they went forward.

On 39 minutes Jon Stead was bundled to the ground but nothing way given by the referee, while a Shola Ameobi backheel into the path of Hawkridge was drilled wide.

Both sides gave as good as they got early in the second half as Tom Nichols and Gaffney tested Fitzsimons, while Grant curled an effort just over the bar, but by this point Notts were getting in an even higher gear.

Just before the hour, the tie was turned around in County's favour thanks to a clipped pass from Dickinson finding Grant, who crossed into the box where Stead was on hand to sidefoot the ball beyond Adam Smith.

The action came thick and fast as Notts continued to put in a superb team performance, with Rovers keeper Smith being tested on several more occasions, but Grant added the cherry on top in injury time for the hosts as he went clear through on goal after latching onto Hawkridge's headed flick on, before slotting underneath Smith to send Meadow Lane barmy.

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Notts County have returned to the top of League Two thanks to an emphatic 3-0 win over Newport County at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

The hosts enjoyed the first opening of the game as Elliott Hewitt received a cutback from Jon Stead on the edge of the area and went for goal but sent his effort wide.

Mike Flynn's charges responded through Dan Butler, who let rip with a powerful effort which Ross Fitzsimons did well to hold.

Jon Stead then headed inches wide from Matt Tootle’s cross while Terry Hawkridge volleyed over, but on 33 minutes came the moment that turned the tide in Notts's favour.

Butler was shown a straight red card after leading with his elbow when challenging Tootle in the air, leaving the full-back requiring treatment.

The opening goal followed just two minutes later as Stead played in Jorge Grant, who coolly slotted the ball past Joe Day and into the bottom corner.

Notts claimed a vital second early in the second half when Grant turned provider for Shola Ameobi to slam the ball past the Newport stopper after outsprinting Scot Bennett to the ball.

The three points were sealed just three minutes later as Day saved well from Grant’s point-blank header but the playmaker’s second effort just crossed the line.

Further chances came and went for Kevin Nolan's side, with Shaun Brisley being denied by a fine stop while Stead also went close and Grant missed out on a hat-trick with a free kick that came off the bar.

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Notts County remain second in Group G of the EFL Trophy following their 2-1 defeat against Mansfield Town at Meadow Lane on Tuesday night.

Both Kevin Nolan and Steve Evans made 10 changes to each of their squads with a view to checking out how the fringe players performed.

The Magpies were hit with an early sucker punch, however, as a mistake from Haydn Hollis allowed Lee Angol to claim the ball and rifle into the bottom corner goal from 20 yards out, beating the diving Branislav Pindroch.

Mansfield could have had a second a few minutes later, with the unmarked Paul Digby heading goalwards from a corner, only for the Slovakian keeper to claw the ball out on the line.

Notts soon found their groove and weighed in with a number of chances, though there was another scare midway through the first half when former Magpie Jimmy Spencer struck the woodwork.

The ball rebounded to Angol, who had an open goal to fire into, only for Shaun Brisley to weigh in with an impressive last-ditch tackle.

Nolan's side went on to find an equaliser through a short corner which was crossed by Liam Walker to the back post, flicked back into the centre by Brisley, and poked home by Alan Smith.

The second half saw more chances traded between both teams, but with Notts stepping it up a gear, they were once again caught out by a Stags goal courtesy of poor work at the back.

Paul Anderson's cross, rather than being firmly claimed by Pindroch, was half-heartedly punched away into the path of CJ Hamilton.

The 22-year-old controlled with his chest before smashing a right-footed effort into the roof of the net from 14 yards to seal victory for the visitors.

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Notts County have fought back from a goal down to claim a 1-1 draw in Saturday's League Two encounter at Carlisle United.

The Pies came close to getting off the mark early on when Mike Jones sloppily gave away possession in midfield, with Shola Ameobi setting up Ryan Yates on the edge of the area, but Jones was able to charge down the ensuing effort.

Carlisle countered through Tom Miller, who was on hand to rifle a Jamie Devitt cross goalwards from close range, but Notts keeper Ross Fitzsimons pulled off a great two-handed save.

At the other end, a looped delivery from Jon Stead at the back post invited Jorge Grant to shoot, but the loanee sent his volley wide.

Both sides continued to trade chances, with Fitzsimons bailing his side out once again when he parried Hallam Hope's toe-poke then kept out Reggie Lambe's follow-up diving header.

Terry Hawkridge then burst clear and fired an effort against the post which then deflected off keeper Jack Bonham and out to safety.

The opening goal came not long after that chance and it went the way of Carlisle, with Nicky Adams crossing towards the back post, Devitt nodding the ball back to centre and Hope bundling home.

County came close to drawing level just before the break when Matt Tootle's shot was kept out by Bonham, but eventually succeeded in getting their equaliser just before the hour.

Tootle was involved once again, overlapping with Hawkridge and sending a cross into the box which Yates steered into the back of the net.

Notts went close to a second on 73 minutes, when Shola Ameobi headed Grant's cross against the post, while a last-ditch tackle from ex-Magpie Gary Liddle then denied Lewis Alessandra.

Yates then headed over a chance late on as Notts finished the game with a share of the spoils which keeps them second in the League Two table.

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Notts County have suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night which knocked them off the top of League Two.

Putting in one of the worst performances of the season so far, the Magpies fell behind just before half time when Michael Raynes rattled home from close range after Eddie Nolan had headed George Cooper’s free kick across goal.

Crewe's win was sealed when, 66 minutes in, Jordan Bowery ran in behind to latch onto a pass from Cooper - the Notts defence caught napping once again - and steer past goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.

Kevin Nolan's rotated charges were on top for the opening exchanges but didn’t create any clear-cut chances - indeed it was the Alex who had the first true sight of goal on 14 minutes when Tom Lowery’s delivery was met by Raynes, but his header was well held by Fitzsimons.

The hosts began upping the ante as Cooper saw a long-range effort blocked by Carl Dickinson, while on the half-hour mark, Chris Porter raced onto a Bowery flick and lifted the ball over the keeper only for Elliott Hewitt to get back and clear the striker’s second effort off the line.

County's bid to get back into the changing rooms on level pegging suffered a blow in the 44th minute when Cooper’s free kick from deep was headed back by Raynes and Porter got a touch as the ball found its way back to the Alex captain, who fired home from close range.

Dickinson did come close to netting an equaliser early after the restart after Ryan Yates was brought down for a free kick around 30 yards out, but the 30-year-old's curling effort was tipped narrowly wide of the post by Crewe keeper Dave Richards.

On 57 minutes, the ignominious triple substitution was called upon by Nolan, with Jorge Grant, Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi replacing Jonathan Forte, Liam Walker and Terry Hawkridge on the Gresty Road pitch.

It made little difference, however, as nine minutes later, Crewe had doubled their lead through Bowery, whose run was spotted by Cooper, met with a through ball which sliced the Notts defence open, and the striker held off his marker and steered a volleyed finish past the onrushing Fitzsimons.

Notts attempted to find a way back but for all their efforts were unable to trouble Richards as the Railwaymen saw the game out with little difficulty and left the visitors heading back to the East Midlands empty-handed.

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Notts County have returned to winning ways and sit atop League Two once again following Saturday's 2-1 win over Barnet at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies had slipped into a mini-blip prior to this weekend, with a defeat at Mansfield Town and a poor home draw with Forest Green Rovers sending alarm bells ringing ever so slightly.

However, Shola Ameobi's header on the quarter-hour mark and Ryan Yates's equivalent from Matt Tootle's pinpoint cross set Notts on their way, even if it proved a nervy ending with Simeon Akinola's late deficit-halver.

Kevin Nolan's charges started brightly and threatened in the seventh minute when Carl Dickinson's cross fell to Richard Duffy at point-blank range, but a Bees defender got in the way of the ensuing strike.

Notts didn't have to wait long to take the lead as Ameobi headed a Rob Milsom corner towards goal and Shaun Brisley forced the ball home in the 16th minute.

The remainder of the opening 45 minutes saw little action, with the only incident of note involding Adam Collin, who collided with an opposition player mid-air, but he was fine to continue and came out for the second half.

The Notts keeper had to be alert to keep out a deflected Barnet effort, backpedalling to push it over the bar and out.

Soon enough, the hosts were two goals to the good, as Tootle Cruyff-turned his man and sent a cross into the box, where Yates was on hand to nod home for his second of the season and first in the league.

Eventually, Collin's first-half injury left him unable to continue, so Ross Fitzsimons came on just before the hour mark in between the Magpie sticks.

At the other end, Lewis Alessandra burst into the Bees box and rifled an effort towards goal, only for Craig Ross to pull off a smart save, before Jorge Grant blasted over from six yards.

Notts thought they had claimed a third goal when Stead drilled home at the back post, only for the referee's assistant to flag for offside.

Barnet subsequently stepped their game up and forced Fitzsimons into several smart saves before Akinola struck back in the 81st minute with a powerful shot into the bottom corner.

However, the Magpies managed to withstand a nervy finale and the full-time whistle saw them clinch all three points.

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Notts County have stolen a point against Forest Green as Rob Milsom struck in the 96th minute to give his side a 1-1 draw in Saturday's League Two encounter at Meadow Lane.

The hosts, playing in front of a bumper crowd of 13,267, had their first chance four minutes in when Carl Dickinson sent a free kick wide of the near post.

Following a cagey start, Notts almost took the lead in the 25th minute as FGR defender Mark Roberts headed the ball back towards his own goalkeeper, who scrambled back but was lucky to see it go wide.

The Magpies picked up the pace afterwards but were left rattled when Forest Green broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark through Omar Bugiel, who sneaked in at the back post to prod home Christian Doidge's cross.

Luke James then forced Adam Collin into a save with a diving header as Mark Cooper's charges, who are without a league win since August, looked to double their lead.

Kevin Nolan shifted his formation round during a break in play and Notts almost drew level in first-half stoppage time, only for Jon Stead's scuffed effort from Jonathan Forte's low cross to be kept out by Sam Russell.

Following the restart, Jorge Grant sidefooted wide from 12 yards out, while a penalty appeal was turned down in the 53rd minute when the ball hit Isaiah Osbourne's arm.

As the game went on, County found clear-cut chances hard to come by in what was shaping up to be a frustrating afternoon, while Forest Green were hardly dominating in the final third either.

Ameobi then wasted the hosts' best opportunity when he headed wide of the post from Grant's cross in what seemed to be the last chance of the game.

However, there was to be a late twist as Dickinson sent the ball up the field, Ameobi knocked it on towards Matt Tootle, and the Slug crossed towards the centre where Milsom nodded beyond the reach of Russell.

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As amazing as Notts County have been for most of September, they sadly fell at the final - and arguably most challenging - hurdle as their League Two derby at Mansfield Town saw them head back down the A60 on the back of a 3-1 defeat.

The first half was a scrappy affair but the Stags enjoyed several gilt-edged chances, the first of the game coming on six minutes when Alex MacDonald's lofted free-kick into the area was nodded by Kane Hemmings into the path of Danny Rose three yards out, but the latter was unable to control and get a decent shot at goal from close range as the ball bounced wide for a goal kick.

Notts then attacked and Jorge Grant saw a curling effort deflect over onto the roof of the net for a corner, and on 18 minutes the Nottingham Forest loanee sent a free kick goalwards which Johnny Hunt hooked over the bar.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock come the half-time whistle but Mansfield got off the mark early after the restart, with Richard Duffy making a hash of a headed backpass which allowed Rose to sneak in and lob the ball over Adam Collin.

On 53 minutes County came close to drawing level during a goalmouth scramble scramble, but David Mirfin was well placed on the line to deny Jonathan Forte from seven yards.

Three minutes late, the visitors were two down as Omari Sterling-James's cross to the far post allowed Hemmings to send a header goalwards which Collin turned onto the post, with Rose pouncing on the rebound and drilling home.

Rose was involved again as the Stags claimed a third, a low cross from the striker taking a deflection off Duffy and into the Notts net.

Kevin Nolan's beleaguered charges did manage to net a consolation late on through a Carl Dickinson free kick, while Shaun Brisley headed against the bar deep into injury time, but it proved a comfortable win for Mansfield in the end and left the Notts boss with work to do on the training ground.

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So the crunch clash of the top two teams in League Two ended up being somewhat one-sided. And luckily for us, it was Notts County who emerged triumphant with a frankly frightening 3-0 win at Exeter City.

The nerves of the travelling Magpies fans - plus those following on the radio or online - were eased within the opening 90 seconds of the game.

A long kick from goalkeeper Adam Collin was flicked on and Lewis Alessandra, spotting Grecians goalkeeper Christy Pym off his line, lobbed a fine first-time effort over the head of the stranded stopper and into the net.

Exeter had an appeal for a penalty turned down minutes later when Jake Taylor broke into the box and went down under a tackle from Nicky Hunt, but referee Kevin Johnson deemed it a fair challenge.

The pendulum then swung back Notts's way as they won a number of corners, with Richard Duffy flicking one over at the near post.

Pierce Sweeney then misjudged a long ball that allowed Terry Hawkridge to break into the box but he fluffed his lines by firing over.

To their credit the hosts mustered several dangerous efforts on goal, as Jake Taylor rifled straight at Collin, while Lee Holmes stung the palms of the goalkeeper with a fierce effort from distance.

Exeter's best chance came shortly before the half-hour mark when Craig Woodman's cross was nodded down by Jayden Stockley and Taylor smashed his effort straight at Collin.

Notts rode out the storm and, in the 62nd minute, doubled their lead as a corner kick caused havoc in the six-yard box and the ball was turned in by the incredible Jorge Grant, who had been on the pitch for five minutes.

Jonathan Forte was narrowly off target for County, while Stockley headed high for Exeter, but Grant bagged his second eight minutes from time after beating the offside trap to volley home.

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Notts County's amazing form shows no sign of letting up with a fifth win on the spin, a 4-1 hammering of local rivals Lincoln City at Meadow Lane.

The Imps were quicker out of the starting blocks as Josh Ginnelly saw an effort tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Adam Collin and from the resulting corner, defender Sean Raggett headed over when unmarked.

Kevin Nolan's charges were under the cosh as Lincoln sought the breakthrough, but they found themselves a man down when, 28 minutes in, midfielder Billy Knott was dismissed for a high foot on Ryan Yates.

With seven minutes of the first half remaining, a deep cross from the left by Rob Milsom found its way to Jon Stead, whose shot on the turn took a deflection to wrongfoot opposition goalkeeper Paul Farman.

It didn't take long for Lincoln to draw level after the restart, however, when Josh Ginnelly's delivery was nodded home at the far post by Harry Anderson.

Nolan's Notts are made of stern stuff though, and rather than letting their heads drop, the Magpies went ahead again on 55 minutes.

Stead turned provider, doing well to pick out Matt Tootle in the box, and the eccentric full-back's low drive flew into the bottom corner - cue the slug celebration.

On 71 minutes, Notts found the killer third in spectacular fashion as Elliott Whitehouse was penalised for a foul on the left corner of the penalty area.

Jorge Grant stood over the free kick and, from a tight angle, whipped in one of the most accurate curling shots you will ever see, finding the top-right corner of the Imps via the post.

And for the cherry on top, former Lincoln hero Terry Hawkridge got off the mark for his new club - against his former employers - cutting inside from the left, finding space for himself and curling the ball low past the stranded Farman late on.

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Notts County's season continues to go from strength to strength as their unbeaten run now stretches to eight games, not to mention a four-match winning streak in League Two and four clean sheets in a row.

The latest team to fall victim to the Magpies' continued renaissance is Crawley Town, with Kevin Nolan taking his team to the Broadfield Stadium and leaving with a 1-0 win.

Notts weighed in with an effort on target after just two minutes when Jon Stead's low angled shot was held by Red Devils goalkeeper Glenn Morris.

There was little to shout about for most of the remainder of the first half, however, save for Enzio Boldewijn firing across goal and Jimmy Smith blasting over from a well worked free kick.

Just before the break, Lewis Alessandra fired wide from close range at the second attempt after his initial one was blocked, Dan Jones causing havoc with his cross in the box.

Into the second half and Notts took the lead in the 54th minute when the prodigal Jorge Grant stabbed the ball into the net after Jonathan Forte played the ball into the loanee's path.

The visitors could have been further ahead as Matt Tootle saw his effort saved from 25 yards and in the final minute Forte lobbed wide of the goal from 40 yards.

Harry Kewell's side did not muster a single shot on target as County saw the game out to remain high up in the League Two table.

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Notts County have edged up to second in League Two following another workmanlike performance in Tuesday night's 1-0 win over Swindon Town.

Jon Stead's penalty just after the half-hour mark, after he was bundled over in the box by Olly Lancashire, was enough to secure the points for Kevin Nolan's charges.

The first sighting of goal came in the eighth minute when Richard Duffy’s botched header fell to Keshi Anderson in the area, but the Swindon man volleyed straight at Adam Collin.

Matty Taylor then picked out Luke Norris with a cross to the back post, but his header on the stretch flew wide.

Notts were next to threaten as Lewis Alessandra went close with a rasping drive which whistled past the post from 20 yards. 

Carl Dickinson then curled a free kick from 25 yards against the outside of the post and out of play as the heavens opened up and torrential rain began falling onto the Meadow Lane pitch.

Notts went on to take the lead through Stead's penalty and held onto their slender advantage going into the break.

Both sides traded blows throughout the second half but the Magpies were able to hold on for another priceless win which stretches their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

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Notts County have stretched their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions following Saturday's 2-0 victory against Morecambe at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies were quick out of the starting blocks in the League Two encounter, with Shola Ameobi heading wide from a Dan Jones corner early on.

Kevin Nolan's charges continued to impress with Jon Stead, Terry Hawkridge and Ameobi all weighing in with chances, while at the other end, the unmarked Steven Old headed straight at Adam Collin from a corner kick.

However, County's efforts were rewarded in the 27th minute when Ameobi won a free kick not far from the Morecambe box, and Jones curled his set piece over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

The visitors made changes at the break and soon enjoyed a dominant spell but struggled to carve out any decent opportunities.

Shaun Brisley nearly doubled County's lead when his header from a corner landed on the roof of the net on 66 minutes.

Collin remained untested in the home goal with the Shrimps’ only effort being a Garry Thompson shot on the turn that skewed well wide of the Magpies’ goal.

Eventually Notts found a killer second and it came courtesy of Jonathan Forte, who got behind Aaron McGowan for a free run on goal which ended with a perfectly placed shot to beat Barry Roche from a tight angle.

Jorge Grant then had a chance to make it three with a free kick from the edge of the area but could only curl the ball over the woodwork.

Morecambe pressed for a late consolation goal and Collin was forced to save well from Thompson and Elliot Osborne in injury time but Nolan's boys managed to hold on for all three points.

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Notts County have got their September off to an ideal start with a clean sheet and three points from a tough League Two fixture, winning 1-0 at newly relegated side Port Vale in Burslem.

The prettiest game it was not. But the result is what counts, and Kevin Nolan's charges could not have asked for a better result, particularly given they played the latter stages of the game with ten men.

Neither side managed to stamp their mark on the game in the first half, the only effort of note coming from David Worrall's strike on 24 minutes which cannonned off the woodwork.

With Nolan opting again to use Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi up front, while Vale used Tom Pope as a lone striker, perhaps it wasn't much of a surprise that chances were few and far between.

There was more in terms of goalmouth action in the second half, as Dan Jones had to be alert to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Tom Pope and then clear Gavin Gunning’s header off the line.

The breakthough - which would turn out to be the winner - came in the 67th minute, as Jorge Grant's cross was met by substitute Lewis Alessandra, who bundled home from close range to send the Black and White army barmy.

Notts were then reduced to ten men when Shaun Brisley suffered an injury and had to be helped off the pitch, with all three of their substitutions having already been made.

Even when eight minutes of injury time was awarded, giving the Valiants plenty of time to try and find an equaliser, the hosts had little in response, ensuring that the full-time whistle would bring joy to the travelling pack.

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Notts County have relinquished a two-goal lead for the second successive game as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Accrington Stanley in Friday night's League Two encounter at Meadow Lane.

In a largely uneventful first half, the Magpies were given the chance to break the deadlock just after the half-hour mark when Stanley captain Seamus Conneely hauled Jon Stead down in the area for a penalty.

The veteran striker opted to take the penalty himself and duly slotted it underneath goalkeeper Aaron Chapman to give the hosts the lead.

Things livened up after the break as Notts doubled their advantage in the 54th minute, courtesy of a great team move which saw Shola Ameobi release Terry Hawkridge, who bolted down the wing and crossed for Jorge Grant to control and curl home.

Stanley did not take long to get back to within a goal, however, as Mark Hughes chipped the ball over Adam Collin from a tight angle on 58 minutes.

More drama was to follow as Mekhi McLeod, a substitute who had only been on the pitch for seven minutes, was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Yates, which he did not appear to take too well.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, they withstood an onslaught of Notts chances before the numbers were evened out again through Matt Tootle's second yellow card.

And five minutes into added time, the Notts capitulation was complete when substitute Mallik Wilks, making his debut after joining on loan from Leeds, collected the ball at the back post before arrowing an effort beyond Collin.

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Notts County have triumphed in a topsy-turvy, nervy and ultimately thrilling game against Wycombe Wanderers, claiming a 4-2 win at Adams Park.

The Magpies threatened early on through Shaun Brisley, whose far post header was cleared off the line by Michael Harriman.

Notts then took the lead after just 14 minutes, a pinpoint Dan Jones free kick falling perfectly to Richard Duffy, who made no mistake with a thumping header into the back of the Chairboys net.

Kevin Nolan's charges promptly doubled their advantage in comical fashion just a minute later, as Luke O'Nien's clearance hit Wycombe captain Adam El-Abd and cannoned past goalkeeper Scott Brown.

The visitors continued to impress, with Wycombe forced into another goalline clearance from a Terry Hawkridge effort, Jones causing chaos with another dangerous delivery into the box.

Gareth Ainsworth's side, however, pulled themselves back into the game in the second half, as substitute Nick Freeman scored with a powerful half-volley into the top corner four minutes after coming on.

Debutant Craig Mackail-Smith headed straight at Adam Collin from Harriman's cross, before Joe Jacobson curled home a free kick from 25 yards out, via the inside of the post, to level the scores.

With the travelling Black and White Army fearing a complete collapse, substitute Jonathan Forte was the hero as he latched on to a Shola Ameobi flick-on - from yet another Jones delivery - to head home and edge Notts back into the lead.

Forte was the architect for County's fourth goal, hitting the post and scuffing the rebound along the goalline, before Lewis Alessandra fired the ball over the line in front of 362 away fans.

The result sees Notts edge to fourth in the League Two table, with two wins from three games.

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Notts County got their Checkatrade Trophy campaign off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Everton Under-21s in Tuesday's fixture at Meadow Lane.

The game was played out before a largely empty stadium as many fans boycotted the competition due to what they see as the Premier League imposing itself on the EFL, but there were still just under 1,500 people in the stands - arguably one of the evening's better attendances across the country.

Kevin Nolan made a total of nine changes to his starting XI and they started on the front foot against a young team which looked almost overawed by the occasion in the early stages.

Indeed, Notts took the lead on the half-hour mark when Jorge Grant nodded a header into the path of Jonathan Forte, and the striker controlled, turned his man, and drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

It wasn't long before the Magpies doubled their advantage, Elliot Hewitt heading a deep centre across the face of the goal and Haydn Hollis being given the simplest of tasks to prod the ball over the line from two yards out.

Everton were more impressive after the break and duly halved the deficit as substitute Anton Donkor picked up the ball in space on the left of the County penalty area before rifling a ferocious shot that found the net via the foot of the post.

The hosts were able to see the game out without too much difficulty, and the relatively low number of fans in attendance were pleased with Notts having put in a solid performance, but in all honesty, the whole thing felt like a friendly.

The focus of all fans now - boycotting or not - will turn to what really matters; the League Two encounter with Wycombe Wanderers this weekend.

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A superb two-goal performance from Notts County substitute Jorge Grant has helped Kevin Nolan's side to a 2-0 win over Chesterfield in their first home game of the 2017/18 League Two season.

Both the Magpies and Spireites had lost their first game of the league campaign and were also knocked out of the League Cup, but despite the visitors' thuggish gameplay, Notts emerged triumphant thanks to the man of the moment.

Many Notts fans were surprised by Nolan's decision to revert to the bulk of the side that started the 3-0 hammering at Coventry City, save for Ryan Yates replacing Liam Walker in midfield.

The opening 20 minutes proved pretty uneventful, with Chesterfield registering the first effort of note as Louis Reed flashed a shot wide of the Notts post on 22 minutes.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, Gozie Ugwu clashed with Elliott Hewitt in an off-the-ball incident, an incident which should really have warranted a red card, but the referee only showed him a yellow.

Notts then stepped it up a gear, Shola Ameobi going through on goal after a Reed slip, but opposition goalkeeper Sam Hird pulled off a smart save to force a corner.

On 34 minutes, however, Ugwu had arguably the best chance of the game so far when he was put clean through, but Adam Collin made a save low down.

Normal service resumed afterwards as Notts weighed in with several more chances and, shortly before the break, Gary Caldwell's charges went down to 10 men after Terry Hawkridge was brought down by Scott Wiseman, denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity.

There was yet more room for controversy as Ugwu fouled Richard Duffy to earn himself a final talking-to by the ref, and his manager saw fit to take him off at the break.

Within a minute of the restart, Dion Donohue came close to open the scoring, but he hesitated and Duffy managed to charge his shot down.

The game changed entirely when Grant came on 53 minutes, as he broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Matt Tootle's free kick nodded by the loanee past Chesterfield goalkeeper Joe Anyon and into the net.

Notts could have had a second shortly afterwards when Stead was put through by Ameobi, but just as he had a go, he was barged into by Ian Evatt, the effort being saved and put out for a corner.

Nonetheless, the Magpies would go on to seal the deal late on in the game, Jonathan Forte winning a free kick just outside the box and Grant curling a wonderful effort into the bottom corner.

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Notts County have certainly enjoyed some memorable nights in the League Cup over the last couple of years. The epic showdown with Nottingham Forest in 2011. Taking the mighty Liverpool to extra time in 2013. The eight-goal thriller with Aston Villa.

And right on cue, on yet another odd-numbered year, comes another League Cup classic featuring the Magpies - the opponents, Scunthorpe United, may not be quite so glamorous as the above, but it was nonetheless a titanic tussle which went all the way to penalties, though sadly, the outcome was a defeat, albeit a heroic one.

In a game played under heavy rain that seemed at risk of potentially being postponed as it went on, Jorge Grant hit a speculative effort from 20 yards out which hit the bar and was turned behind for a corner.

From the resulting corner, the Nottingham Forest loanee opened the scoring after Rob Milsom’s cross into the box was not dealt with by the Iron defence and Grant steered into the far corner.

Scunthorpe switched formation from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 at the break which made them more threatening, and 61 minutes in, Paddy Madden had the ball in the back of the net, though he was deemed to be offside.

However, the hosts were given a route back into the game when Conor Townsend was brought down by Terry Hawkridge, prompting the referee to award a penalty which Madden slotted into the bottom left-hand corner.

With just four minutes left of normal time, Duane Holmes put the Iron ahead after racing through onto a Sam Mantom pass, and it looked like County's resistance was over.

However, injury time brought about a Notts equaliser when Milsom’s corner was met by the head of Shaun Brisley, hitting the post with his first chance, before pouncing on the rebound and levelling the game, which meant extra time.

Seconds before half-time in the extra period, Hakeeb Adelakun played Madden through on goal, who bore down on goal and slotted past Ross Fitzsimons, although the Magpies were a man down in defence after Shaun Brisley went down injured at the other end.

Nonetheless, Kevin Nolan's side would draw level once again when another Forest loanee, Ryan Yates turned inside the box and drove his shot past Matt Gilks, who had little time to react to the strike.

And so it went down to penalties, whose new format - and its resulting name - has singlehandledly served as free advertising for one of the most "iconic" pop bands of the 20th century.

One player on team A would take a spot kick, then two players on team B would take their penalties, then two from team A, and so on, rather than the simple one on each team alternating. So rather than ABAB, it's ABBA.

Alan Smith, Curtis Thompson, Rob Milsom, Shaun Brisley and Jonathan Forte all succeeded with their penalties, but Scunthorpe's efforts were all converted too, and sadly the man to fluff his kick was a Notts man, Matt Tootle.

Nonetheless, it was a gutsy, doughty performance which Nolan and his boys can take much from going into Saturday's encounter with Chesterfield, the first Meadow Lane league game of the season.

And judging by how things have panned out over the last decade, expect a complete non-event in the League Cup in 2018 before another corker in 2019.

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Notts County were humbled at the Ricoh Arena as Coventry City cruised to a 3-0 win over the visitors in Saturday's League Two opener.

Following a five-minute postponement due to adverse weather, the Sky Blues began brightly, with Michael Doyle forcing a save from Adam Collin at his near post six minutes in.

The Magpies then enjoyed a bright spell, Peter Vincenti's sloppiness in the middle of the park setting off a move that culminated in Terry Hawkridge drilling an effort against the foot of the post.

Shaun Brisley then flicked a header narrowly wide on 28 minutes, which proved a costly miss as Coventry took the lead just a minute later.

Jodi Jones received a diagonal ball in the box on the right from Vincenti, cut inside onto his left foot, and was given all the time and space in the world to then fire the ball into the net, Dan Jones holding back and being nutmegged in the process.

Coventry ended the half strongly, Dominic Hyam heading just over on the stroke of half-time, and they continued to impress following the restart, Marc McNulty hitting a ferocious angled shot that required a good save from Collin.

Notts, however, stepped up a gear, with strike pair Shola Ameobi and Jon Stead causing the opposition defenders problems, though the latter could only drill an effort over the bar.

For all of the visitors' increasing efforts, however, they were caught out 11 minutes from time when 19-year-old Jones burst through into the box, composed himself and sent an angled shot past Collin.

The cherry on top for Coventry and Jones came in injury time when Duckens Nazon slipped the youngster through, and he then drilled past the Notts keeper to leave the visitors reeling come the final whistle.

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