League Two leaders MK Dons extended their lead at the top of the table this afternoon at Meadow Lane by defeating Ian McParland's battling Magpies 2-1, with an injury-time winner securing the points for Paul Ince's men.

Notts got off to the perfect start on nine minutes when Richard Butcher rose highest in the box to head Andy Parkinson's cross into the net, but within five minutes the visitors were level with Mark Wright converting a Kevin Gallen cross from close range.

The Dons came close to taking the lead a minute later, but Colin Cameron's header came back off the post in a real end-to-end first half.

The second period was much tighter and chances were few and far between, but the Dons won it in injury-time through sub Jemal Johnson.

Notts boss Ian McParland made two changes to his side which faced Dagenham on Saturday, with Gary Silk and Andy Parkinson into the side. The duo came in for Krystian Pearce who was suspended, while Jason Lee dropped to the bench as Notts reverted to a 4-5-1 formation with Dudfield up front - but with Parkinson and Weston joining in from wide when on the attack it became a 4-3-3 formation.

MK Dons were aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table after an impressive string of results in recent weeks which saw them claim a vital win over promotion rivals Peterborough two weeks ago.

Notts started brightly in front of a good Boxing Day crowd, and Richard Butcher handed the Magpies a dream start on nine minutes as he rose highest to head home an Andy Parkinson cross. After finding room down the right and eventually shaking off his man with a smart turn the winger provided a telling cross which Butcher powered into the bottom corner, and bag his second goal in as many games.

But, the lead didn't last long as the Dons drew level on fourteen minutes. Gallen evaded the offside trap to find room down the left-hand side of the penalty area to slide the ball across to former Walsall winger Mark Wright who slammed the ball into the net to draw the visitors level.

An a highly-charged and action packed opening period the Dons almost took the lead a minute later with Colin Cameron's diving header from twelve yards coming back off Pilkington's left-hand post. Dyer's cross from the left to pick out the Scot was superb, but he couldn't quite guide the header into the net as they stepping up a gear or two.

To be fair to Notts, they were defending really well and getting bodies in the way when it mattered although none of the defenders could get in the way of Cameron's thunderous volley from the edge of the box on twenty-four minutes, leaving it for Pilkington to pull off a superb stop diving low to his right.

The 33-year-old had another stop to make by the half-hour as the visitors put the pressure on as he dived low to save by Wright, but while the visitors were enjoying the better of the game Notts were equally looking dangerous when breaking with the pace of Parkinson and Weston wide caused the Dons problems.

Dyer and Andrews were off target just before the half-hour for the Dons in what was an action-packed and end-to-end affair which could have seen Notts got in 2-1 up but MacKenzie's free-kick from the edge of the box was turned away for a corner by Gueret.

Half-Time: Notts County 1-1 MK Dons

The Dons made a change at the back during the break with Carbon on in place of O'Hanlon at the heart of the defence, and it was a half that began with both defences on top and giving little away.

In fact, it took fifty-five minutes for the first attempt of the half to be registered, and even then it was a poor effort by Navarro for MK Dons who sliced the ball into the Kop Stand where the visiting fans were situated.

A chance for Neil MacKenzie special on the edge of the box on the hour hit the wall as Notts looked to break down the Dons in a far tighter second period. Juts after the hour the Dons came close to taking the lead for the first time as he cut inside from the right, but his left-foot drive was just wide.

Pilkington made a good reaction stop from Gallen with twenty minutes to go after Wright caused more problems from the right. While the Dons were able to create more opportunities, you could not say for one second Notts were being outclassed. It was far tighter than the first period, and neither side were looking to give the other an inch from which they might sniff out a goal.

Jason Lee was introduced into the action for the final ten minutes, and the visitors responded by throwing on their own targetman in Drewe Broughton as both sides pushed for a winner.

Lee almost got it for Notts three minutes from time with a low header from Lawrie Dudfield's right-wing cross, but Gueret was equal to the 36-year-old's effort by diving onto the ball and falling low to his right.

A minute into injury-time, the Dons got the winner they craved as late sub Jemal Johnson was on hand to poke home from close range as Notts failed to clear a corner. It was so harsh on Notts, who really had given it everything.

The question Ian McParland posed to his players pre-match was could they rise to the occasion. Well, Notts certainly did that. They more than matched MK Dons this afternoon, and gave everything they had in the tank to push the leaders all the way.

The question now is, can Notts sustain that level of performance? Well, since the FA Cup loss to Havant & Waterlooville, they've shown what they can do. It's a great base to build on now in terms of performance as McParland's men take on another of the promotion chasers on Saturday, this time Rotherham are the visitors.

Full Time: Notts County 1-2 MK Dons

Notts County: Pilkington, Canoville, Tann (C), Hunt, McCann, Silk, MacKenzie, Butcher, Weston, Parkinson (Lee 79), Dudfield.
Subs Not Used: Sandercombe, Sam, Weir-Daley, Mayo.
Booked: Silk.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Butcher (9).

MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Andrews (C), O'Hanlon (Carbon 46), Gallen (Broughton 81), Cameron (Johnson 87), Dyer, Wright, Navarro, Howell, Swailes.
Subs Not Used: Abbey, Hadfield.
Booked: Howell, Navarro.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Wright (15), Johnson (90).

Match Referee: Mr M Riley

Attendance: 5,106 (591 MK Dons Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Stephen Hunt