Notts County 4-0 Southend United (National League) 21.02.23

Macaulay Langstaff scored his 31st and 32nd league goals of the season as Notts County demolished Southend United 4-0 at Meadow Lane.

Langstaff’s brace, combined with a double from Sam Austin, ensured The Magpies scored four for the third successive game and extended their record-breaking unbeaten league run to 25 games.

The comfortable victory was Notts’ seventh consecutive win and sees them maintain their five-point lead at the top of the National League.

Meanwhile Kevin Maher’s Shrimpers side, who face a decisive date in court on 1st March, remain sixth.

A bright start from both sides saw the visitors have the first chance in the 5th minute when Jake Hyde glanced a Wesley Fonguck cross wide.

The hosts took the lead in the 18th minute, as Ruben Rodrigues collected a poor defensive header and slipped a pass through to Langstaff who whipped the ball in at the near post from just inside the area.

By now, Notts were firmly in control and the lead was doubled just 5 minutes later. John Bostock crossed for Austin, who finished with a lovely diving header for his first league goal of the season.

The pressure from The Magpies continued, with Langstaff going close to his second in the 36th minute, this time with a left footed drive from 25 yards which sailed narrowly wide of Southend ‘keeper Blondy Nna Noukeu’s left-hand post.

The second half began with a huge opportunity for the visitors as right-wingback Gus Scott-Morriss escaped in behind the Notts defence, but he could only turn his low cross into the gloves of Sam Slocombe.

Notts gave themselves even more breathing room in the 56th minute as a driving run from Rodrigues saw him lay the ball wide for Langstaff and the prolific Teesider drilled a low shot into the far corner for yet another goal to add his tally.

The visitors’ best chance to forge a route back into the game came in the 72nd minute when Jack Bridge slid a cutback to the back post, but substitute Dan Mooney could only hit the post from six yards out.

The result was put beyond all doubt in the 83rd minute when a deep cross from John Bostock was controlled well by Austin, who was now occupying the right-wingback position, and the ex-Kidderminster man rifled home at the near post to cap off an impressive team performance from Luke Williams’ side.

Saturday sees Notts welcome Dagenham and Redbridge to Meadow Lane for a 5.20 kick-off live on BT Sport while title rivals Wrexham, who defeated struggling Scunthorpe United 2-0 at home on Tuesday night, face a home clash with Dorking Wanderers.

*Article provided by Evan Shaw (Notts County Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC the celebrations continue as Notts go 25 unbeaten.