If there is one word to describe the start to the Magpies' start of the season it is 'inconsistent', having started with two horrendous 3-0 defeats but played their way back into the top half with some far more cohesive displays since. In Saturday's win over Leyton Orient however both the good and bad sides of Notts were in evidence as they raced into a 2-0 lead before surrendering it. That wasn't the end of the drama though as Lee Hughes' winner picked up three points that Craig Short and his side would've been devastated to throw away after such a good start.
The game started at a lively pace and Kevin Smith could've opened the scoring after a neat passing move saw Ben Davies burst into the box, but his pull back just evaded the Scottish forward. At the other end Orient also had an early effort, with some pinball in the box seeing the ball fall to the diminutive Dean Cox, who's rasping effort was blocked by John Thompson. It was the hosts who got the early breakthrough they craved however as Jon Harley was scythed down near the corner flag to give Davies a chance to whip a ball in. He did just that, with his perfect delivery finding Lee Hughes at the near post to guide the ball past Jamie Jones to give Notts the lead.
This was soon doubled as an Orient defence best described as hesitant gifted Craig Westcarr a goal. A poor backpass by Charlie Daniels saw Aaron Brown and Jones leave the ball to each other, allowing Westcarr to steal in a poke the ball into the bottom corner to put Notts in the driving seat. This elation was short lived though as the O's immediately got themselves back into the match, Adam Chambers hit a hopeful long ranger effort that former Orient 'keeper Stuart Nelson inexplicably parried back into play rather than over the bar or simply holding it. The ball fall to former Notts loanee Ryan Jarvis who managed to do what he rarely looked like in his time at Meadow Lane, striking it past Nelson and into the net.
This flurry of goals died down but it was Orient who looked more likely to breach the net next, with Cox firing a shot across the face of goal and striker Alex Revell heading past Nelson's far post in a spell of real pressure for the visitors. Their possession football continued to frustrate Notts until they finally equalised ten minutes into the second half. Notts failed to close down the lively Cox and his floated cross found the unmarked Matt Spring, who guided the ball into the bottom corner to notch up a deserved equaliser for Orient.
The turning point of the match was probably to come next though as the O's had a golden chance to take the lead, as Chambers burst towards the Notts area he was fouled but the ball broke to Stephen Dawson eight yards out, who had the time to pick his spot but rushed his effort and horribly sliced it a long way over the bar. This let off seemed to wake up Notts along with the introduction of loanee Alan Judge for his debut, who's energy seemed to give Notts an extra dimension. It was he who won a free kick which Davies saw saved by Jones at his near post, but Notts didn't have to wait long until they did regain the lead after the best passing move of the match. The ball broke to Neal Bishop in midfield who drove forward and played an inch perfect through ball for the overlapping John Thompson, who kept his composure to square it for Hughes to tap into an empty net. Judge had two further chances to seal the game but his choice of power over placement infront of goal was wrong on both occasions, but Notts weathered the late Orient rally to hold on for three points that could prove vital after the disappointment of Charlton.
Notts County 3 (Hughes '14, '74 Westcarr '21)
Leyton Orient 2 (Jarvis '22, Spring '54)
Notts Co - Nelson, Thompson, Pearce, Lee, Harley, Westcarr, Bishop, Ravenhill, Davies, Hughes (Burgess), Smith (Judge)
Leyton O - Jones, Omozusi, Brown, Chorley, Daniels, Spring, Chambers, Dawson, Cox, Jarvis (Walker), Revell