Magpies thrash gulls as Notts continue to fly high

Notts County 4 Torquay United 0

A match that looked every inch a top-versus-bottom clash finished in yet another rout, as Notts County continued their seemingly relentless quest for automatic promotion from non-league football, this time against Torquay.

And as rivals Wrexham dished out a thrashing of their own, the race for top-spot is looking more and more like a two-horse race.

This was County’s seventh straight league win of the season, from which they’ve scored no less than 23 goals – frightening stuff. Unfortunately for the hapless Gulls, Meadow Lane is something of a fortress these days. Under pressure at the foot of the table, they were never really in the game, save the first five minutes or so.

Then, as so often has been the case this season, the home side took the game by the scruff of the neck and enjoyed absolute dominance. The opener didn’t arrive until the 27th minute, but what a strike when it did; Connell Rawlinson‘s sweet shot was never in doubt the moment it left his boot. A penalty from the in-form Ruben Rodrigues followed soon after.

But under manager Luke Williams, there seems to be a raft of great performances in black-and-white near enough every game. That said, Notts struggled a little in front of goal in the second half. The last five minutes, however, where so often they have come undone in recent years, saw them double their tally. Substitute Quevin Castro, and midfielder Geraldo Bajrami both showed their eye for goal, outlining the squad’s strength in depth.

The defence is solid this season, as is the mindset. Conversely, it was a quiet afternoon for talisman Macauley Langstaff. The ‘non-league Haaland’ saw little of the ball despite his side’s performance, and any suggestions that County are reliant on his goalscoring prowess are now surely in the past.

If it’s possibly true that he could leave during the January window and Notts are already trying to get used to life without him, then they’re doing a good job. With Wrexham constantly breathing down their necks, it could prove the difference.