Magpies soar into top six
Lee Hughes' sixth goal of the season saw Notts County move into the League One play-off places after a 2-0 win at Meadow Lane that also dumped Rochdale into the relegation zone.
Martin Allen's men were on top throughout, with powerful forward Ben Burgess heading wide from Alan Judge's cross.
Burgess then turned provider for the goal in the 35th minute, playing the ball into an unmarked Hughes on the penalty spot and the veteran marksman found the bottom corner with a simple left-foot finish.
Just before the break, Gary Jones' shot from outside the area had County keeper Stuart Nelson diving across his goal but it was never a serious threat.
Notts had the better chances in the second half too, with Alan Sheehan hitting a slow volley straight at England Under-20 goalkeeper Jake Kean. Substitute Cristian Montano then played in Hughes, who slipped the ball to Judge, but his first touch was heavy and Kean collected.
Montano almost settled the game in the last minute with a sweet volley from the left but it was left to Sam Sodje to wrap up the win, glancing home Sheehan's free-kick from the right with the last meaningful move of the game.
Notts County 2-0 Rochdale: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
