Rewind back a week and ask yourself, would you take defeat in the cup if it meant Notts would comprehensively win 3-0 to take three vital home points as they continue to pursue their promotion dream against Maidstone next time out?
Some might even say, that the distraction of not having the FA Cup in their way after that shock defeat against part timers Coalville Town, is a blessing for the Magpies, who can now focus solely on the league, and partially on the FA Trophy, with intentions clear by Luke Williams and his team, that when it comes to the championship race, the club are deadly serious, and to others, now laying down the gauntlet for the rest to follow.
With win, the Magpies not only forging a fortress at Meadow Lane, whatever the weather, also go, temporarily at least, four points clear at the top of the National League… Now it’s over to you Wrexham.
On a soddened and soaking Friday evening Trent side it took 44 minutes before County broke the away teams resistance. That man again, Macaulay Langstaff doing what he does best.
Langstaff quickest to react after his header hit the bar, firing in the rebound for his 16th league goal of the season, he had an earlier effort ruled out for offside.
That gave the home side the lift they needed going into the break and shortly into the second half, Langstaff passed to Rodrigues who curled home a beauty, his first from open play this season.
Just two minutes later, Ruben should have had his second of the game from the spot, after Cedwyn Scott was tripped and the Portuguese playmaker stepped up, only for Mersin to make the save, but it mattered not. Scott rounding things off striking low and hard into the corner of the United net when he looked to have given the goalkeeper the eyes.
Luke Williams stating after “I don’t think I’ve got any right to be disappointed tonight, I thought the boys were very very good”.
Notts will now watch on for the result of Wrexham and Boreham Wood today as second play third, knowing that it’s the Magpies in control of their own destiny, heading into the midweek game at Wealdstone before hosting Torquay next Saturday.
*Main image @Official_NCFC Ruben Rodrigues celebrates his first goal from open play this season.
