If the summer felt like a parallel universe to Notts fans, then there isn't a metaphor to describe today. All the hype, all the media interest and all the pressure seemed justified as a rampant Magpies side demolished third favourites Bradford City at Meadow Lane. Experienced forward Lee Hughes bagged an impressive hat-trick but in truth, if anything, Notts could be disappointed not to have made it an even more painful afternoon for the visiting Bantams. We may have shut up the likes of Stuart McCall, Gareth Evans and Michael Boulding who've been belittling Notts in the previous week, however.
As over 9,000 piled into Meadow Lane there was a sense of expectation as the teams took to the pitch, but it was the visitors who settled and had the better possession in the first ten minutes, but Notts carved out the first chance. Luke Rodgers latched onto a lofted through ball but was forced wide and fired a shot that was comfortably saved by Simon Eastwood in the visiting goal. Bradford created their first chance soon after, with ex-Notts full back Simon Ramsden whipping in a cross that was met by Joe Colbeck, but his header was comfortably saved by Russell Hoult.
Colbeck had the next effort on eleven minutes also, firing in an effort from the edge of the box that was once again easy for Hoult. Five minutes later Notts got their first however, that sent the Meadow Lane crowd wild. A teasing Craig Westcarr cross was flicked on by Luke Rodgers into the path of Ben Davies who planted a header into the back of the net, via the inside of the post. Davies skidded along the Meadow Lane turf to celebrate his first goal in black and white and from this moment the Magpies were completely in control of the match.
Brendan Moloney had the next effort for the hosts as the full back cut inside and fired a low, left-footed shot straight at Simon Eastwood, with Luke Rodgers also heading wide from close range when offside. Notts were now monopolising possession and looked like scoring every time they came forward and the Magpies got a deserved second five minutes before the break. A ball forward was missed by the hilariously bad Zesh Rehman, allowing Lee Hughes to latch onto it and calmly round the floundering Eastwood and roll the ball home. Hughes' celebration was amusing, but not taken to heart by the visitors judging by the missile-throwing reaction.
Rodgers wasted another chance for the Magpies, firing a shot straight at Eastwood from the edge of the box, but on the stroke of the break things got even better for the hosts, as the impressive Craig Westcarr skipped away down the left and swung in a brilliant cross that was bundled home by Hughes from close range. The new Notts hero was booked for his celebration but looked delighted to have opened his competitive Notts account in style with a brace. Notts received a standing ovation as the half time whistle blew, with Notts completely in control of the match.
After the break the match continued in much the same vein, with the Magpies continuing to keep the visitors on the rack. They got a chance to make it four within ten minutes also, with the hard working Luke Rodgers racing onto a pass from Neal Bishop and being hauled down by Matt Clarke to give the Magpies a penalty. There was no doubt who was to step up to take it, with Lee Hughes grabbing the ball and confidently smashing the penalty down the middle to complete his first hat-trick for his new club.
Hughes then had a chance to get his fourth of the game but he narrowly headed a corner over the bar and Ricky Ravenhill also tried to get in on the act, dragging a long range effort narrowly wide of the post. Hughes lasted just over an hour before his afternoon came to the end, with the hat-trick hero leaving the field to a standing ovation from the Meadow Lane crowd. New signing Karl Hawley entered the fray for his Magpies debut, hoping to get in on the act and bag his first Notts goal. Matt Hamshaw also came on having missed parts of pre-season through injury, replacing the superb Craig Westcarr.
Luke Rodgers had the next chance to get on the scoresheet, latching onto yet another ball over the top which had terrorised the Bradford defence all afternoon. Rodgers did brilliantly to cut inside but could only dink a left footed shot narrowly wide of the post. The fifth goal would come however for Notts, with right back Brendan Moloney marauding forward and after a neat passing move he picked the ball up on the edge of the box, danced round three Bradford defenders and chipped the ball over the 'keeper to bag himself the best goal of the lot.
The Bantams did manage to have a shot before the end, Gareth Evans firing a left footed long ranger miles wide of Hoult's left post, but in the end it wasn't just a victory for the Magpies, it was the kind of beating that leaves a side struggling to pick itself up. However, for all Bradford's hopeless defender and lack of firepower, Notts were brilliant at the back, passed the ball with confidence in midfield and looked like scoring every time they got near the Bradford box. More of the same would be lovely, and will possibly now be expected, but if Notts can play a fraction as well as they did today for the majority of the season then a good campaign is in store.
Notts County 5 (Davies 17, Hughes 39, 43, 55, Moloney 86)
Bradford City 0
Attendance - 9,396 (2,289 Bradford)