Notts Enjoying Promotion Charge

Notts County 5-2 Cheltenham Town (EFL League Two) 21.03.2026

Following on from a 4-0 win in midweek away to Accrington Stanley, Martin Paterson’s promotion-chasing Notts County hit visiting Cheltenham Town for five in an entertaining, 5-2 win.

A battling first half did see the two sides go in level at twos-apiece at the break, before a second half burst from the hosts, and a late red card for the visitors, ensured the points stayed in Nottingham.

Isaac Hutchinson netted twice for the visitors, who’d only won twice in their previous eight going into this, leading after ten minutes, then equalising in the thirty-fifth minute; County though struck back with goals from Jodi Jones and Matthew Palmer, as the two sides certainly went for it.

Jones’ effort came after a well-worked short corner saw Palmer’s initial effort diverted home by the Magpies midfielder, before Palmer then netted when he created enough space to fire a twenty-yarder past Joe Day in the visiting goal.

Paterson made a handful of changes midway through the second half, whilst two further goals were added in between, the first seeing Tom Iorpenda turn the visiting defence inside out, before beating Day at his near post, before he turned provider just six minutes later when being released by Oliver Norburn and played in Alassana Jatta who saw his effort hit the back of the net.

The visitors were down to ten men with less than ten remaining, on-loan MK Dons defender, Sam Sherring seeing red for a foul on Keanan Bennetts, with the hosts going on to add a killer fifth in stoppage time after Tyrese Hall put the finish on a Bennetts cut-back.

The win sees County remain fourth, sandwiched amongst a handful of sides split by just seven points, MK Dons (2), Cambridge United (3), Notts County (4), Swindon Town (5), and Salford (6), who now face a trio of away days beginning with eleventh place Oldham Athletic on Tuesday (23 March) night, kick-off 19:45.

Notts County: James Belshaw, Lewis Macari, Rod McDonald (Lucas Ness, 74), Jacob Bedeau, Nick Tsaroulla (Maziar Kouhyar, 65), Matthew Palmer, Tom Iorpenda, Jodi Jones (Tyrese Hall, 74), Conor Grant (Oliver Norburn, 65), Harald Tangen (Keanan Bennetts, 65), Alassana Jatta.