Eastleigh 0-2 Notts County (National League) 12.11.22

Notts County are back sitting top of the National League table after an impressive win at Eastleigh whilst the Magpies nearest challengers for promotion, Wrexham, were held to a goalless draw at Wealdstone.

A bright start was made by Notts at a ground they previously hadn’t scored at, on the front foot after being knocked off top spot in the table midweek, Sam Austin with an early attempt deflected wide.

Ed Francis and Ruben Rodrigues then went into the book before Rodrigues supplied Langstaff who shot over the bar, the Magpies frustrated during a goalless first half despite dominating possession.

It was Eastleigh who started bright in the second half as Abrahams flashed a shot wide of Slocombe’s post but at the other end, Notts kept pushing, Rodrigues acrobatically saw his effort hit the side netting, Brindley trying his luck from 30 yards, before Mr Reliable, no not Macaulay Langstaff, but Adam Chicksen, broke the deadlock with yet another goal for his ever-bulging campaign collection.

Chicksen waiting at the back post where Tobi Adebayo-Rowling found him with his perfect right wing centre, ready to pounce and head home from close range.

Rodrigues might have doubled that lead shortly after but his shot deflected over on 68, the Portuguese star not to be denied the next time as he finished a super move to slot home and give Notts some much needed breathing space.

Sam Austin then went close with a left footed effort before Bajrami forced the best out of McDonnell in the Eastleigh goal, Adebayo-Rowling then rattled a post late on, but it mattered not, a win, a clean sheet and back sitting pretty at the top of the league, not a bad afternoon’s work from the boys of Notts.

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Hill (Hesketh 77), Martin, Carter, Langston, Rutherford (Kelly 77), McKiernan, Abrahams, Camp, Harper, Cisse (Whitehall 68).

Notts County: Slocombe, Brindley, Cameron, Rawlinson, Chicksen, Adebayo-Rowling, Austin, Francis (Scott 64), Palmer, Rodrigues, Langstaff.

Venue: Silverlake Stadium

*Main image @Official_NCFC celebrations for Notts County as Adam Chicksen scores again.