Notts County 4-3 Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green threw away a superb second half fight back to fall to defeat at Notts County on Saturday afternoon, despite a hat-trick from Troy Deeney.
Rovers were two down at half time but Deeney put them level just 16 minutes into the second 45, before County scored twice in five minutes to lead 4-2.
Deeney completed his hat trick from the penalty spot after Reece Brown was fouled with 12 minutes to go.
He almost had a fourth in added time but his header hit the bar and Notts County held on to move top of League Two.
A third defeat in a row leaves Rovers 22st in the table, conceding 10 goals in that time.
Head coach David Horseman had made two changes from last weekend’s defeat to Doncaster, bringing captain Dom Bernard and Reece Welch back in defence.
Two crosses from the left hand side were turned home by County in the first half, Jodi Jones 19th minute ball allowed Crowley to head in for his fourth goal of the season before Macaulay Langstaff stretched to steer home McGoldrick’s cross in the 37th.
It could have been three but for a superb save from Rovers keeper Luke Daniels, turning Jones’ low free kick around the post just before half time.
Forest Green got back into the contest in the 56th minute, Deeney receiving with his back to goal, turning and finding the bottom corner.
The travelling side were level just five minutes later with a goal mouth scramble allowing Deeney to poke home.
County regrouped and restored their lead in the 65th minute, Crowley and Tobi Adebayo linking up smartly before John Bostock finished.
The two goal lead was restored when McGoldrick slotted home on the counter attack to make the decisive score of four goals in the first 23 minutes of the second half.
Brown was tripped in the area late own, allowing Deeney to step up and calmly claim his third, allowing the visitors a chance to snatch a point but they ran out of time to fall to defeat.
