In the glorious August sunshine, Notts completed an equally glorious 3-2 victory over local rivals Mansfield Town thanks to a five-minute double salvo from the Magpies.
Mike Edwards headed home his side’s second equaliser of the afternoon on 82 minutes, before Glynn Hurst smashed, emphatically home from point-blank range to ensure the Magpies remained top of League Two.
These strikes came after Hurst had already levelled after Richie Barker's strike and Gareth Jellyman had given the Stags the lead for the second time.
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The pair – along with Rob Ullathorne – remained doubtful right up until kick-off, though both were eventually replaced in the starting side by Stacey Long and Lewis McMahon, respectively.
Changes aside, however, Notts started in the same, forceful manor that has typified their excellent start to the campaign.
Seconds into the game, and both Hurst and Steve Scoffham had already badgered their opposition into mistakes right from the off.
Within five minutes of the kick-off, the smash-and-grab pairing had mustered up their first chance of the afternoon. A Hurst lay-off released an again hungry Scoffham who was unlucky to drag his effort just wide of his arch-enemy Kevin Pressman’s post.
Despite Notts’ promising start to the contest, it was Mansfield who were to strike first. After a collection of what are now considered slap-stick defensive errors from Gudjon’s men, Richie Barker adjusted well to slot home past Kevin Pilkington, returning to his former haunt for the first time since his summer move.
But, where the Notts of old would have crumbled and wilted under the pressure, County only came back stronger forcing an equaliser almost immediately from their hosts.
When McMahon was brought down on the edge of the box, captain Julien Baudet smashed a free-kick into the wall.
However, Mansfield were unable to complete the clearence, with the ball falling invitingly for Scoffham, and then Hurst for the South African-born striker to net his 100th goal in league football with a typically predatory strike.
After parity was restored, one couldn’t help but feel that the game had lost its bite. The tempo settled, and the 1,700 travelling Notts support were educated with the fact that their side, under Thordarson, are equally capable of a scrap as they are (on their day) pure, unadulterated football. A fine, balanced art, indeed.
The half would have paled into nothingness had it not been for a clash between Pilkington and Mansfield’s Chris Beardsley.
The striker charged headlong into the challenge with the Notts custodian, with Pilkington berating the young forward’s rash challenge.
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Before the half was out, the Magpies had a fairly credible claim for a penalty turned down as Scoffham raced through on goal. Pursued, and subsequently toppled, by Mansfield defenders, the former Gedling Town man went to ground only for the claims to be waved away by ‘referee’ Mr. Laws.
Half time: Mansfield Town 1-1 Notts County
Notts begun the second half in very much the same mind-set as they did the first. Quickest out of the starting blocks, Gudjon’s men were hungry oncemore. The fight was back, as was the bite and it looked for all the world that Notts would capitalise on their progress.
Dan Martin – who replaced an ineffective Chrissy Palmer at the interval – provided a new outlet for Notts, as his more down-to-earth, steadied approach replaced the often unfruitful, yet slightly more emphatic efforts of Palmer.
But, despite Notts' decent start, much like the first half, it was Mansfield who managed a goal first.
On the hour, Pilkington – otherwise steady today – was guilty of ball-watching to let in Gareth Jellyman for the Stags’ second.
From a long Town throw-in, Barker flicked over the onrushing Pilkington for Jellyman to pounce on the former Manchester United ‘keeper’s concentration lapse. A blunder that earned him his fair share of, ahem, approval from the home crowd.
Another substitute, Jake Sheridan also provided Thordarson with food for thought ahead of Friday’s trip north, as his introduction for the subdued Long added some promising forward advances to the Magpies’ attacking play, with his pin-point crosses and tireless running causing problems for Jellyman at left-back.
Despite Sheridan’s introduction, however, Notts, for extended periods, failed to press with real conviction, as they waited till the 82nd minute before pulling level.
The unlikely figure of Edwards, nonetheless, burst forward to head home a pin-point McMahon corner. His goal was his first for the club, and was the perfect tonic to a troublesome thirteen months with the club.
With the score at 2-2, Notts grew in confidence.
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So much so that, five minutes after Edwards had pulled the score back to two-a-piece, White muscled his way into the box striking the ball goal-bound that Hurst smashed home to secure a spectacular win for his team.
In a five-minute surge, the Magpies had succeeded in not only levelling the scores, but pulling ahead of their opponents to claim victory.
Substitute Martin came close late on for the Magpies, but Pressman’s (cough, splutter, choke) athletic stop will remain trivial to the overall outcome of the day, as – with the chant "We are top of the league!" still bellowing from the away support – Notts finally claimed victory over their bitter rivals. The first away win in seven league encounters for the Magpies.
What a way to break the duck.
Full time: Mansfield Town 2-3 Notts County
Sure, the victory came in somewhat fortunate circumstances. But considering the retched luck Notts County have endured over the years, few – this end of the A60, at least – will begrudge Gudjon’s men a slice of luck.
After a rousing performance, a vocal 1,700 strong away following thoroughly behind their team for the whole game were rewarded for their endeavour by three points, bragging rights and, if all of the above was not enough, celebration at the final whistle, with the players and Thordarson himself enjoying the moment with the fans.
Top of the League…we're having a laugh.
Match ratings to follow.