Notts County moved up to eighth in the National League after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Eastleigh at Meadow Lane.
Goals from Cal Roberts, who produced a performance of pure quality, and Kyle Wootton, who on another day could have had a hat-trick, earned the Magpies the points which saw them overcome a side they had already beaten at home in the FA Trophy but had lost to in the reverse National League fixture at The Silverlake Stadium in November.
Head coach Ian Burchnall reverted to the team which beat Barnet 6-1 in the most recent National League game, which meant seven changes to the side which started the 2-1 FA Trophy victory over Halifax last weekend.
Vitezslav Jaros, Kyle Cameron, Adam Chicksen, Richard Brindley, Jayden Richardson, Matty Palmer and Roberts returned, with Connell Rawlinson, Frank Vincent and Kairo Mitchell dropping to the bench and Sam Slocombe, Alex Lacey, Joel Taylor and Dion Kelly-Evans out of the match-day squad altogether.
The match opened with Notts on the attack and the first chance came in the 4th minute when Roberts and Richardson combined from a throw-in on the right and Richardson’s cross was hacked over the bar by defender Jake Hesketh.
Ed Francis’ corner sailed harmlessly out for a goal kick.
Notts continued to press and Roberts worked a shooting chance for Palmer, but instead he curled in a cross which Sam could not control.
In the 7th minute the crowd carried out a minute’s applause for Meadow Lane head groundsman Matt Hallam’s daughter, Leila Rose, who has been battling against rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Richardson and Roberts were causing havoc on the right and the next chance fell to Wootton in the box but his control let him down. A period of sustained pressure on Eastleigh’s goal followed but they managed to hold firm.
Notts were in total control but a poor final ball or reluctance to shoot left them frustrated, especially at their inability to test Spitfires goalkeeper Joe McDonnell after he received treatment for an injury,
Sam was next to spurn a golden chance when Roberts floated a pass to him in the box with no defender in sight but he failed to bring the ball under control and it rolled harmlessly through to McDonnell.
Sam was having an exasperating afternoon and after showing great skill to beat two men on the left he sent his cross harmlessly out of play.
Roberts showed Sam how to do it minutes later with a delightful cross to the far post but neither the tall striker nor Wootton could make contact.
The visitors threatened for the first time in the 25th minute when Tjay de Barr latched on to a cross from the left but shot over.
It was a warning to Notts and gave Eastleigh the confidence to indulge in some neat passing but, like the home side, their final ball was wasteful.
However, they won a free kick on the left edge of the box after Wootton’s touch again deserted him but they failed to beat the first man with a dreadful effort.
Notts at last found the opener on the 34th minute when Roberts, who had been the exception in terms of the brilliance of his passing, curled in another superb left-foot cross from the right of the box and it beat everyone to nestle in the corner of the net.
Notts were back in control and created another chance when Richardson ran on to Roberts’ pass and his shot was deflected on to the post by McDonnell.
Notts had a golden opportunity to increase the lead five minutes before half-time when Francis’ corner reached the back post where Cameron could only toe the ball wide on the stretch.
But they did go in two goals up when McDonnell dithered on the ball wide in his box and lost out to Wootton, who turned and stroked the ball into an empty net for his 17th goal of the season. And it could have been three as Sam cut in from the left and flashed a right-foot drive just wide before the half-time whistle went.
Burchnall made no changes at the interval and the second half started with Notts in control, Roberts popping up on the left but for once slicing his cross out of play.
Richardson then burst down the right and his cross was headed goalwards by Sam but hit a defender and went out for a corner.
Palmer’s first corner was diverted out by the defence but from the second one Cameron blasted a side-foot volley over at the back post.
The game was now very open and after Palmer and Chicksen foiled an Eastleigh break, they worked the ball forward to Sam but an excellent tackle prevented him getting a shot in.
It was the Richardson and Roberts show down the right and the former was soon on the rampage again, providing another cross for which there were no takers.
Sam then created a great chance for Wootton but his scuffed shot was saved by McDonnell.
Eastleigh replaced Harry Pritchard and Brett Pitman with Danny Whitehall and Danny Hollands in the 65th minute but Notts were next to threaten, Richardson putting another tantalising ball across the face of goal with no Notts player there to tap it in.
And the Magpies spurned another golden opportunity when Cameron produced some delightful footwork in the box before crossing to the back post where Wootton somehow headed over the bar.
Sam had had a mixed afternoon and he was replaced by Mitchell in the 71st minute.
Wootton had another chance when he was free in the six-yard box but a cross came to him too quickly and his flick at the ball made no contact.
Then great play by Rodrigues created a shooting chance for Richardson but his fierce drive was blocked out for a corner, which came to nothing.
Unbelievably Notts continued to fail to add to their tally as Richardson again saw a shot blocked, this time by McDonnell at his near post.
Notts replaced the excellent Roberts with Aaron Nemane in the 85th minute and while they continued to press there were no further goals despite four minutes of added time.
Notts County: Jaros, Richardson, Brindley, Cameron, Chicksen, Francis, Palmer, Rodrigues, Roberts (Nemane 85), Wootton, Sam (Mitchell 70).
Subs unused: Brunt, Rawlinson, Vincent.
Eastleigh: McDonnell, Kelly, Boyce, Broadbent, Harper, Miley, Hesketh, Pritchard Hollands 65), Hill, Pitman (Whitehall 65), De Barr.
Subs unused: Flitney, Bragg, Barnett.
