Notts County 3-0 Salford City
English Football League Two | Meadow Lane | 25 May 2026

Notts County produced a dominant second‑half display to sweep aside Salford City 3‑0 at Meadow Lane on Monday evening, a result that kept the Magpies firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion from League Two. The visitors, who arrived in Nottinghamshire on a four‑match unbeaten run, were simply overpowered after the interval as the home side turned possession into three clinical finishes.

Match Overview

The first half was a tight, tactical affair with both midfields cancelling each other out. Salford’s defensive block held firm, and the only clear chance fell to Notts County striker David McGoldrick, whose curling effort was tipped over by the Salford goalkeeper. The scoreline remained goalless at the break, but the momentum shifted decisively after the restart.

Key Moments

• 48th minute – 1‑0: A quick throw‑in released right‑back Tobi Adebayo, whose low cross was met by John Bostock on the edge of the box. Bostock’s first‑time shot took a deflection off a Salford defender and nestled inside the far post.
• 61st minute – 2‑0: A set‑piece masterclass. Dan Crowley’s in‑swinging corner was headed powerfully home by centre‑half Kyle Cameron, who rose highest to give the keeper no chance.
• 74th minute – 3‑0: Substitute Junior Morias sealed the victory with a classic counter‑attack. Picking the ball up on the halfway line, he drove at the retreating Salford backline, cut inside onto his right foot, and placed a low shot into the bottom corner.

Tactical Story

Notts County manager Luke Williams adjusted his team’s pressing triggers at half‑time. The Magpies pushed higher up the pitch and forced Salford into hurried clearances. Crowley’s movement between the lines created overloads, while full‑backs Adebayo and Connell Rawlinson provided width. Salford, usually comfortable in possession, struggled to play out from the back and managed only one shot on target across the 90 minutes.

Standout Player – Dan Crowley

The playmaker was the game’s architect. Crowley completed 86% of his passes, created four chances, and delivered the corner that led to the second goal. His ability to drift into pockets of space pulled Salford’s midfield out of shape and allowed Bostock and Morias to operate in dangerous areas.

Impact on the Table

The victory lifted Notts County into second place in League Two, three points behind leaders Stockport County but with a game in hand. Salford remained 14th, nine points adrift of the play‑off places, and will need to rediscover their first‑half resilience quickly if they are to close the gap.

For the Magpies, this was a statement performance. Promotion back to the third tier – a level they last graced in 1995 – is becoming an increasingly realistic target with seven matches remaining.