Notts County won 2-1 against Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon, though the scoreline flatters the visitors considerably less than the contest itself might suggest.
Cheltenham made the stronger start. Isaac Hutchinson was the driving force in the opening exchanges, and his goal in the tenth minute rewarded their early pressure. County took time to settle, but goals from Jodi Jones on 16 minutes and Matt Palmer on 28 levelled and then turned the match before the half-hour mark. Palmer's strike, in particular, steadied the home side and gave them a platform they did not relinquish.
Hutchinson pulled Cheltenham level again on 35 minutes, meaning both teams went into the break with the game finely poised. The second half brought a wave of changes from both benches, with the bulk of the substitutions arriving between the 65th and 75th minutes. Jacob Bedeau and Oliver Norburn came on for County around the hour mark, while Cheltenham introduced several players in quick succession as they chased the game.
Despite the traffic through the technical areas, County held their shape better as the match wore on. Hutchinson's late dismissal in stoppage time, his second booking of the afternoon, compounded Cheltenham's difficulties. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 home victory that County will feel was largely within their control once Palmer's goal settled the nerves in the first half.
Recap generated from the event timeline. Editorial team review by request. How we use AI.
