Saturday 31st March, 4:50pm

Involved: Lawrie Dudfield's Header Led To Tom Newey's Own Goal After the Break

An own goal by Tom Newey and a goal from Jay Smith were enough to secure Notts County a second win on the bounce in League Two with a 2-0 victory over Grimsby Town at Meadow Lane.

The first half lacked chances with the only real chance falling to Grimsby's Gary Jones who forced Kevin Pilkington into a good save seven minutes before the break.

However, the second half saw plenty of chances created - but it was an own goal that gifted Notts the lead as Newey managed to slice the ball into his own net after Lawrie Dudfield has flicked on a cross from the left soon after the restart.

Jason Lee went close four times for the Magpies, but he couldn't add to his sixteen-goal total this season, and it was Jay Smith who secured the three points with a close-range finish late on.

Notts kicked off with only one change to the side which defeated Bury 1-0 at Gigg Lane last weekend, with influential midfielder Jay Smith back in the side after injury in place of Gary Silk in the midfield three of the Magpies' 4-3-3 formation.

On the bench was no goalkeeper for the Magpies, with James Walker coming onto then bench in place of back-up goalkeeper Saul Deeney, while Silk replaced Dan Martin on the bench.

Both sides included players who had turned out for the opposition with Mike Edwards and Jason Lee ex-Mariners, while Grimsby included ex-Notts trio Nick Fenton, James Hunt and Paul Bolland in their starting line-up. Ex-Grimsby frontman Andy Parkinson was on the bench for Notts.

Grimsby got the game underway in the Meadow Lane sunshine with both sides having opportunities on the 'half-chance' variety. N'Toya screwed a shot wide after good play by Dudfield down the left, while Jones headed wide from a Bolland cross a minute later.

The Magpies were temporarily down to ten men when Hunt took a boot in the face from Grimsby's Jones - meaning a trip to the dressing room for the Notts defender for some stitches to seal up the wound. In the meantime, Hunt's spot was filled by Matt Somner.

In terms of chances, there was little to record in the opening fifteen minutes with both sides cheaply giving away possession on a windy afternoon.

Hunt returned after around ten minutes worth of treatment, and he returned with a blank shirt and also a bandage covering most of his head. Notts had coped pretty well with ten men, but Hunt's return allowed the Magpies to return to their usual shape.

Soon after Hunt's arrival back onto the pitch Jones had a good opportunity in the box on the turn to get a shot in, but he held onto the ball too long for the Mariners and it allowed Edwards to get back and block the shot.

By the half hour Notts began to look the most likely side to break the deadlock with Dudfield in particular using the ball well and getting himself into some good positions up the front - but again chances were lacking.

Hunt again had to go off for treatment as his head continued to bleed towards the end of the half, and during that time Fenton's back-post header across goal was hooked away by Mike Edwards who was perfectly placed to deny an onrushing Bolland a chance to bag a goal against his former employers.

Pilkington made a fine save from Jones' header which was crashing into the roof of the net from a cross from Till on the right, but the Magpie custodian got up well to turn the ball over the crossbar.

In The Action: Tcham N'Toya Is Challenged By Justin Whittle

No further chances were created by either side for the rest of the half, which included two added minutes, in a relatively chanceless half with the exception of Jones' header which produced a fine save from Pilkington.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Grimsby Town

At the break Steve Thompson made a change in attack with Tcham N'Toya replaced by former Grimsby attacker Andy Parkinson, and it was Notts who came out the traps sharper at the start of the second period and Jay Smith's rasping volley from outside the area forced Barnes into a good stop two minutes into the second period at the expense of a corner.

Smith was involved in another good move five minutes after the break as he played a delightful ball to the far post towards Jason Lee who stuck out a foot to guide the ball towards goal, but he has just off target.

Notts however kept the pressure on and the ball was pumped back into the Grimsby boss and Dudfield's flick-on was sliced into his own net by Tom Newey. He stuck out a foot to clear the ball, but could only slam the ball into the roof of the net via the crossbar to hand Notts the lead.

The Magpies continued to press after the goal with more pressure, and some neat footwork from Lee almost created a goal for himself but his turn and shot produced a good stop from Barnes.

Newey came close to redeeming himself for his own goal just before the hour, but after Toner had played him in down the left he lashed the ball just wide of Pilkington's right-hand post.

Lee met a Ian Ross free-kick to the far post perfectly on the hour after a foul on Dudfield, but his header which was sneaking inside the near post was well saved by Barnes in the Grimsby goal with a fine reaction stop.

With twenty-three to go Notts replaced Somner with Silk in a straight midfield swap, with Grimsby also making a change with North replacing Till.

Dudfield had a glorious chance to score a second for Notts on seventy-one, but after good play between Parkinson, Pipe and Smith to create the chance for an unmarked Dudfield some twelve yards out he scuffed his effort into the ground. It did however bounce up off the ground and force Barnes into a good save at the expense of a corner which led to Parkinson creating some space for himself and flashing an effort just wide.

Smith flashed a good effort from range at Barnes, with the Magpies looking in control but just needing a second to wrap things up. Grimsby however were still in the game and a deep free-kick to the far post was met by Whittle who headed just over.

Lee again came close but blasted just wide, while Dudfield was played clean through on goal by Smith but Newey got back to force Dudfield away from goal.

Notts however finally wrapped up the points with five minutes to go with a breakaway goal by Jay Smith with five to go. On the break down the left Parkinson beat Newey for pace and played a smart ball across to box to Smith who had his initial effort well saved by Barnes, only for the midfielder to react quickly to chip the ball over the Grimsby goalkeeper and into the net to wrap things up.

Dudfield was then replaced by Walker, and his departure was met by a standing ovation after another fine performance up the front.

Against a side in good form the Magpies can be pleased with three points in the bag, and also a second straight clean sheet, as they aim to finish the season on a high.