MAGPIES BACK IN LEAGUE 1 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2015
NOTTS COUNTY (3-4-2-1) Belshaw – Ness McDonald Bedeau – Tsaroulla (87, Bennetts) Norburn (78, Palmer) Robertson Jones (85, Kouhyar) – Iorpenda Luker (68, Grant) – Jatta (86, Ndlovu) Subs unused Griffiths (G) Dennis
Yellow (2) 22, Tsaroulla 57, Ness
Red (0)
Goals (3) 1-0 (32, Jatta) 2-0 (45, Ness) 3-0 (70, Grant)
SALFORD CITY (4-4-2) Young – Mnoga Oluwo Cooper (60, Borini) Garbutt – Graydon Butcher (46, Woodburn) Austerfield (85, Stockton) Longelo (60, Harris) – Cesay Udoh Subs unused Howard (G) Turton Dorrington
Yellow (2) 44, Mnoga 90+3, Woodburn
Red (0)
Goals (0)
Crowd 30,851
Referee Tom Reeves 4th Official Edward Duckworth VAR Official James Bell
Match Report
NOTTS COUNTY’S Jodi Jones was magnificent in ending the Magpies 11-year absence from League One, putting on a brilliant performance in their comfortable 3-0 win against the Salford City side who were watched by owners Sir David Beckham, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes at a sweltering Wembley Stadium with the temperature pitch side at 36.5 degrees centigrade.
Salford supporters were heavily outnumbered in the crowd of 30,851 at the League Two play-off final, there was a huge focus on the former Manchester United and England team-mates in the stands. On the pitch, Malta international Jodi Jones once again helped the Magpies to promotion at the Wembley Stadium – having been part of the Notts County side that beat Chesterfield on penalties in the National League promotion final back in 2023.
Jodi Jones first provided the pass that set Alassana Jatta on his way to opening the scoring with a cool finish in stifling conditions making it 1-0 in the 32nd minute. Then Jodi Jones helped to create Notts County’s second with a well-worked free-kick that was eventually headed home by Lucas Ness from an assist by Rob McDonald the captain to make it 2-0 in the 45th minute. Notts County led 2-0 at the interval.
Jodi Jones went on to complete the one-sided result with a first-time finish past Salford City goalkeeper Matt Young with 20 minutes remaining, making it 3-0 in the 70th minute at a sun-soaked showdown in London failed to produce a shot on goal in the opening 25 minutes leading up to the first break for drinks. Once refreshed, Notts County wasted no time in breaking the deadlock.
Salford City’s inability to keep Jodi Jones suppressed, proved the difference in an otherwise cagey first half. No pass in this game was more decisive than the searching ball the winger swept into the path of Jatta from deep, that set the Gambia striker up for the opener just after the half-hour mark. Jones then went on to orchestrate the Magpies’ second on the stroke of half-time, sending a free-kick to Rod McDonald at the back post – where it was volleyed back across goal for Ness to meet with a towering header. It was not until the second half that Salford managed a meaningful chance but, even then, goalkeeper and lifelong Notts County fan James Belshaw read the danger and rushed off his line to smother a shot from Kallum Cesay as he broke free on goal.
That chance was the best that Salford City managed to carve out, with Jones going on to put the result beyond doubt when he raced into the box and slammed the ball home after meeting a cut-back pass from substitute Conor Grant. It was a performance that earned Jones a standing ovation when he was replaced late on, and why he earned more rapturous applause when named man of the match.
Notts County came into the League 2 Playoff Final at Wembley Stadium off the back of two wins against Chesterfield (away) Play Off Semi-Final 1st Leg 1-0 and Colchester United (away) 1-0, two draws against Chesterfield (home) Play Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg 0-0 last time out and Bristol Rovers (home) 1-1 and two defeats against Barnet (home) 1-2 and Cambridge United (away) 0-4.
Salford City came into the League 2 Play-off Final at Wembley Stadium off the back of three wins against Grimsby Town (away) Play Off Semi-Final 1st Leg 2-1, Bromley (home) 2-0 and Oldham Athletic (away) 2-1 and three draws against Grimsby Town (home) Semi-Final Play Off 2nd Leg 2-2 last time out, Crawley Town (away) 0-0 and Gillingham (home) 0-0.
Notts County manager Martin Paterson started with a 3-4-2-1 formation with James Belshaw in goal, then a three man defensive unit of Lucas Ness, captain Rod McDonald and Jacob Bedeau then a four man midfield with two wing backs in Nick Tsaroulla, Oliver Norburn, Scott Robertson and Jodi Jones then two attacking midfielders in Tom Iorpenda and Jayden Luker with Alassana Jatta the loan striker up top. Notts County were unchanged.
Salford City manager Karl Robinson started with a 4-4-2 formation with Matt Young in goal, then a back four of Haji Mnoga, Ademola Oluwo, Brandon Cooper and captain Luke Garbutt then a four man midfield of Ryan Graydon, Matt Butcher, Josh Austerfield and Rosaire Longelo then two strikers in Kallum Cesay and Daniel Udoh. Salford City made one change with Rosaire Longelo for N’Mai.
The match which was the third play-off final of the weekend kicked off at the traditional time of 3 pm. Salford City kicked off the first half attacking the goal behind where the Notts County fans were seated in the shade. Nick Tsaroulla was yellow carded in the 22nd minute for County. Notts County opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through Alassana Jatta with a right footed shot from an assist by Jodi Jones. Make it 1-0 to County. Salford Haji Mnoga was yellow carded in the 43rd minute for a foul on Jodi Jones.
Notts County made it 2-0 in the with a Lucas Ness header from an assist by captain Rod McDonald in the 45th minute. Jodi Jones went on to complete the one-sided result with a first-time finish past Salford City goalkeeper Matt Young with 20 minutes remaining, making it 3-0 in the 70th minute at a sun-soaked showdown in London failed to produce a shot on goal in the opening 25 minutes leading up to the first break for drinks. Once refreshed, Notts County wasted no time in breaking the deadlock.
Half Time Salford City 0 Notts County 2 (4 minutes added time)
Full Time Salford City 0 Notts County 3 (10 minutes added time)
