Losing the big crunch match at the top of the division might well have derailed Notts County, the race for the title swinging in Wrexham’s favour.

Yet, buoyed on by the Welsh side only managing to snatch a draw versus Barnet earlier in the day, Luke Williams’ men resoundingly responded’ to that 3-2 defeat at the Racehorse Ground against Woking.

Darren Sarll’s men gave a good account of themselves in the first half, showcasing why they’ve already confirmed their spot in the National League playoffs. But, after Sam Austin opened the scoring for the Magpies, it was clockwork for the home side who ended up on the right side of a convincing 3-0 win.

Team News

Luke Williams reshuffled his starting eleven for the match at Meadow Lane against Woking, opting to start former Coventry City man and Oxford United loanee Jodi Jones. That would allow for Junior Morias to take up a spot on the substitutes bench, the recent signing yet to feature for the Magpies. Could the game against Woking be his debut?

Woking also made several changes from their draw versus Southend, with Kacper Lopata, James Daly and Kyran Lofthouse coming into the Cardinals side. Kacper Lopata has stood out in recent weeks for the Cardinals, with lots of rumoured Football League interest in the Polish defender.

First Half

Billed beforehand as a potentially exciting encounter, the match started instead in a cagey fashion. Notts County was frustrated in the opening few exchanges by a resolute and well-drilled Woking defence, Macaulay Langstaff attempting a shot early on only for his effort to be blocked by a sea of yellow shirts from the away team.

An error from Notts County keeper Sam Slocombe around the 20-minute mark nearly presented Woking with a slice of fortune to score - the County goalkeeper hitting a goal kick straight at an opposition player accidentally. Unfortunately for the Cards, the Woking man couldn’t direct a shot anywhere near the target after being gifted.

The Notts County fans were beginning to show signs of restlessness, Kyran Lofthouse for the visitors having a go-on goal that stung the palms of Slocombe. A corner kick was also wasted by Darren Sarll’s plucky away team, Kacper Lopata heading wide after a fantastic delivery troubled the County defence.

The half-time scoreline would end up being 0-0, Ruben Rodrigues glancing a cross wide just before the interval with Adam Chicksen for the Magpies also hitting a speculative effort that left Will Jaaskelainen in the Cards net untroubled.

Second Half

It might well have been the half-time team talk conducted by Luke Williams, but whatever happened in that interval, Notts County came back onto the pitch a different animal.

Woking did, however, have the first chance of note before The Magpies went on to dominate - Dan Moss for the visitors was found over-the-top, but his effort on goal was tame and easy for Sam Slocombe to collect.

Moments after, Notts County took the lead and didn’t look back from then on in. Sam Austin would stroke the ball into the back of the net with ease after Matt Palmer arrowed a cross to his feet, the former Kidderminster man breaking the deadlock to the delight of the Meadow Lane faithful.

Notts County then had two penalty shouts, the first a glaring handball by a Woking man waved away by referee Scott Jackson and the second a tackle on a Notts County player that went unpunished.

Macaulay Langstaff - who has already broken records this season - nearly got another strike to add to his astounding back catalogue right after these two penalty shouts. The experienced head of Scott Cuthbert intervened just before County’s impressive number 9 could strike a shot however, Woking’s number 4 slid in expertly to thwart his progress.

Second-half substitute Aaron Nemane would then wrap up three points for Luke Williams’ men with around 20 minutes left on the clock. The ex-Manchester City attacker bundled in a cross from Sam Austin, Will Jaaskelainen was unable to come out and show his authority with County’s French midfielder getting the last touch.

After that goal, Luke Williams would give Junior Morias his debut in a County shirt - Notts County’s boss hauling off Macaulay Langstaff and Ruben Rodrigues to rapturous applause, resting his key men ahead of big games to follow in the National League title race.

It would, however, be a man that had played the full contest that would add gloss to an already impressive victory - Sam Austin found by Cedwyn Scott who also came on as a late substitute, Notts County’s number 8 again showing his knack in-front of goal to expertly finish past the Woking shot-stopper.

Chants of ‘We’ve got super Lukey Williams’ would reverberate around Meadow Lane when Sam Jackson blew up for full-time, the County boss adored by a fanbase who love coming to support their Magpies. 8000 or so were packed into Meadow Lane for this one, good going considering the clash was televised.

It was the perfect way to respond to the Wrexham setback, a resounding victory over a Woking side that showed flashes of excellence, especially in the first 45 minutes. Unfortunately, when the Notts County players are all singing off the same hymn sheet, they’re a force to be reckoned with. One point off Wrexham now, there’s still life left in Luke Williams’ Notts County.

Man of the Match

Notts County on the day, understandably, awarded this Man of the Match accolade to their number 8 in Sam Austin. The ex-Kidderminster man constantly drove his side forward even when the match was locked in a stalemate, his two goals securing the convincing victory.

In a season where Macaulay Langstaff and others have stolen the Magpies headlines, Sam Austin showed off the immense quality seeping throughout the County squad.