Notts County 3-0 Milton Keynes Dons (EFL League Two) 02.04.2025

Results of late, coupled with Wednesday night’s win for Stuart Maynard’s Notts County, has the Magpies in with a chance of a late run for the EFL League Two title – it can happen, honestly….

Half a dozen games still to play, County are within four points of leaders Walsall, and two adrift of joint-second pairing, Bradford City and Port Vale, after a pair of wonder goals from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis, and a first for the club by Nick Tsaroulla, gave County a comfortable, 3-0 home win, over lowly MK Dons.

The Meadow Lane faithful first had to endure a goalless opening half however, both sides creating little in the way of an effort on goal, cagey being an understatement.

McGoldrick lit the blue touch paper early in the second when, after great work from George Abbott and Charlie Whitaker through the middle, the ball made its way to the County hitman on the far edge of the eighteen-yard box.

One-touch to move the ball with his right, onto his left, then a whipped curl into the opposite corner of Connal Trueman’s goal, the visiting ‘keeper rooted to the spot as the ball zipped past him.

Less than five minutes later, Tsaroulla had a chance to double the score, but his shot is held well by Trueman; the Dons shot-stopper wasn’t so lucky a few minutes after though, the hosts doubling their lead through the same player.

Will Jarvis, putting in a great performance, dismissed Aaron Nemane on the flank, before firing a deep cross to the back post; Tsaroulla needed a couple of touches to control and a final one to prod home at the back post.

As the game ticked into the final fifteen, the hosts wrapped up the points, again in some style; receiving the ball in the visitors’ half, Jarvis moved forward a little, cut inside slightly, then, around twenty-yards from goal, putting a challenge down, curled a stunning right-footer past the despairing dive of Trueman, and into the opposite corner with which McGoldrick had done at the start of the half.

After that, it was all about battening down the hatches, and protecting what, eventually, was a stunning, three-goal, three-point success for Maynard’s charges, and with the home straight now in the headlights, who knows what could happen next.

Victory over the visiting Dons sees County unbeaten in their last three, and for experienced goalkeeper Sam Slocombe, a trio of clean sheets to boot, as the Magpies hit fourth in the League Two table.

With it now, all to play for, it’s a trip to ninth place Colchester United on Saturday for Notts County, whilst elsewhere, and seven points separating the top six sides, there’ll be more than a few eyes on the game between Walsall (first) and Port Vale (third), second place Bradford City welcome Crewe Alexandra (eighth), Doncaster Rovers (fifth) are away to mid-table Cheltenham Town, and AFC Wimbledon, who slipped up when shipping two late penalties at Swindon Town, host fifth bottom Harrogate Town.

Who’s ready for more changes in the race for promotion? It sure is a wild ride down here!!

Notts County – Sam Slocombe, Lewis Macari (Zac Johnson, 80), Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Nick Tsaroulla (Kellan Gordon, 76), George Abbott, Matthew Palmer, Will Jarvis, Charlie Whitaker (Curtis Edwards, 76), David McGoldrick (Jack Hinchy, 80), Conor Grant (Mai Traore, 76)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Will Jarvis celebrates his goal for Notts County.