Scunthorpe United 1-4 Notts County (National League) 03.12.2022

Wrexham’s 1-1 draw with York City helped Notts County’s promotion aspirations on Saturday afternoon as the Pies romped to a 4-1 win away to Scunthorpe United, and moved back to the top of the National League, by a point, from the Welsh side.

Victory, it was achieved when coming from behind at Glanford Park, the Irons’ Caolan Lavery, on a quick break, driving home the opener, past Sam Slocombe, after 19 minutes, however, by the time the interval came around, the hosts were 3-1 down thanks to goals from Ruben De Castro, Jim O’Brien, and Macaulay Langstaff.

However, just minutes later, and the Pies were level, Ruben Rodrigues playing the ball to De Casto, who finishes well, it was a goal which sparked the visitors to life, and then some.

Ten minutes after levelling and Jim O’Brien, returning to the side, collects a De Castro lay-off at distance, and let’s one fly from twenty-five yards out, the ball hitting the back of loanee Marcus Dewhurst’s (from Sheffield United) goal, before two, quickly, became three.

O’Brien again takes aim, but this time his shot gets deflected and Dewhurst saves, only as far as the lurking Langstaff, he wasting little time in volleying home the rebound; in the pace of twenty minutes, from going a goal down, the National League high-fliers would find themselves going in at the break, 3-1 to the good.

Both sides continued to have chances after the restart, the hosts looking for any chance to get back into a game they once led, Lavery seeing an early chance dragged wide of goal.

However, as the game wore on, it was looking more likely there being just one winner, although it did take until the closing stages for the Pies to finally rubber-stamp the three points.

Cedwyn Scott was brought on for Langstaff with a little under fifteen remaining, the latter having seen an effort brilliantly cleared off the goal-line moments earlier, and, within five minutes of coming on, Scott had placed his name on the score-sheet, smashing the ball home from close range.

Luke Williams takes his National League table-toppers to mid-table Maidenhead United on Saturday (10 December), before welcoming Tynesiders, Gateshead, former employers of Langstaff and Scott, to Meadow Lane, on the Tuesday (13 December) night.

Notts County: Sam Slocombe, Kyle Cameron, Aden Baldwin, Matt Palmer, Adam Chicksen, Richard Brindley, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Ruben da Rocha Rodrigues, Jim O’Brien (Ed Francis 65), Quevin De Castro (Sam Austin, 52), Macaulay Langstaff (Cedwyn Scott 75).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC the Notts players celebrate at Scunthorpe.