Notts County 4-0 Scunthorpe United (National League) 25.03.23
A super win for Notts who keep the pressure on league leaders Wrexham and important in the title race, the Magpies scoring an extra goal, 101 for the season now for the leagues highest scorers. The Welsh outfit hitting 100 in their 3-0 win over York. Both teams with a goal difference of +65, the Magpies three points behind having played a game more.
The first real opportunity of the game fell for John Bostock inside the opening minute. Ruben Rodrigues’ through ball set Aaron Nemane free down the right-hand side, and his low-driven cross arrived at the feet of John Bostock, who eventually saw his shot blocked and diverted away from goal.
The opening goal of the game came on the stroke of the seventh minute. Another fine piece of trickery from Ruben Rodrigues saw the freedom of the penalty area open up for the Portuguese midfielder. Notts’ number 20 fizzed a low ball into the back post, where Adam Chicksen was on hand to stab home his eleventh goal of the season.
Notts’ early dominance was well-rewarded with the opener and the hosts did not stop there and doubled their tally instantly as Aaron Nemane was on-hand once again to feed Macaulay Langstaff, who eventually saw his cross turned home by the boot of a Scunthorpe United defender to make it two
A late challenge from Jacob Butterfield on Sam Slocombe saw the experienced midfielder enter the referee’s notebook inside the opening fifteen minutes. The goalkeeper was unable to continue and was replaced by Archie Mair.
A touch of class from both sets of supporters followed as a tribute of applause was carried out around Meadow Lane for a young Scunthorpe United fan who sadly lost their life earlier on in the week.
Aaron Nemane had arguably his best opening forty-five minutes of the campaign and was heavily involved again in the thirtieth minute when his fine piece of footwork completely wrong-footed the Scunthorpe defender, leaving him for dead. However, his shot was well-saved by Tom Billson.
The first half, in truth, was heavily dominated by the home side. Ruben Rodrigues’ speculative effort came within inches of making it three for Notts inside the opening half, but his long-ranged strike elevated just above the crossbar.
Geraldo Bajrami’s over the top ball was next to find the runner in-behind. His 40-yard ping found the chest of Jim O’Brien, who chested the ball down for Langstaff, who went on to volley into the Family Stand.
The second half began, and it was more Notts dominance that followed as Ruben Rodrigues’ curled cross was met by the forehead of Langstaff, but Notts’ prolific number nine turned his header just beyond the post.
The maestro in the middle for the Magpies was heavily influential once again as his dart into the penalty area was prevented by a late, last ditched challenge by a man in yellow.
Just as we all felt it was time for the usual Macaulay Langstaff goal, the crossbar was on hand to deny him once more. The forward beat the offside trap with severe ease before facing with Billson. The keeper’s out-stretched right arm tipped the strike onto the bar and behind for yet another Notts corner.
Although that Macaulay Langstaff goal didn’t come from the original chance, it did come just six minutes later. A fine delivery from Sam Austin was again met by the forehead of Macaulay Langstaff and this time slammed into the back of the net ahead of the KOP for the third.
Shortly after, the main man had his second. Fine work once again down the right from Matt Palmer led to the midfielder firing low across goal, where Notts number nine was on hand to tap into an empty net.
NEARLY THE HAT-TRICK! Another fine piece of footwork from Palmer linked the midfielder and Langstaff up again. The low cross was scuffed, and the finish was far from trademark as the forward, I am sure, will look back on that as a great opportunity for his fortieth of the campaign.
The forward once again had another chance for his third, but he could only fire over the crossbar. However, it was so near the perfect way to round off a simply dominant afternoon for Notts as their quest for automatic promotion continues.
Notts County: Slocombe (Mair 17), Chicksen (Vincent 63), Cameron, Rawlinson, Bajrami, Nemane (Austin 63), O’Brien, Bostock, Palmer, Rodrigues, Langstaff.
Scunthorpe United: Bilson, Ogle, Richards-Everton, Butterfield (Feeney 67), Wilson (Elliott 46), Shrimpton, Leake, Thompson, Smith, Shields (Rance 46), Bennett.
Venue: Meadow Lane (16,086)
*Article provided by K-Ci Rennicks (Notts County Correspondent).
*Main image @Official_NCFC a huge crowd at Meadow Lane as Notts hit four past the iron.