Jeff Hughes scored an injury-time winner as Notts County beat Stevenage in Keith Curle's first game in charge.

Jonathan Forte fired over from long range and Alan Judge hit the bar for Notts, while Chris Beardsley went close for the visitors in the first half.

Second-half substitute Don Cowan missed a great chance for Stevenage, before Kieron Freeman forced a great save from Chris Day at the other end.

Two minutes into injury time, Hughes's strike from 16 yards won it for Notts.

The Magpies climb a place to 10th and are now five points adrift of sixth-placed Stevenage.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Notts County manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I think it's not a big three points for me, I think credit where credit's due, it's a big three points for the changing room.

"They've been through a lot - a lot of emotions - a very sensitive time for the football club and I've tried to leave the players alone as much as possible, give them a little bit of shape and a little bit of direction.

"I said to them before the game, everything that happens today in the game is for their reward."

Stevenage manager Gary Smith told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It's not a nice feeling, I know that. There's that sickening, gut-wrenching moment as it goes into the back of the net with 30 seconds to go, which is not nice at all.

"I thought the second-half performance was better than the first.

"When you look at the opportunities that came our way - I know Chris Day made some very decent saves himself - but we could have been in front.

"In the end, we haven't done enough in front of goal to secure our point when really I thought we deserved a point at least."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Notts County

  • 17 Nelson
  • 03 Sheehan
  • 05 Pearce
  • 20 Freeman
  • 35 Stewart
  • 10 Bishop
  • 11 J Hughes
  • 14 Judge (Chilvers - 90' )
  • 31 Mahon
  • 09 L Hughes
  • 15 Forte (Montano - 46' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 21 Mitchell
  • 24 Chilvers
  • 06 Bencherif
  • 07 Demontagnac
  • 30 Montano

Stevenage

  • 16 Day
  • 03 Laird
  • 04 Charles (Cowan - 56' )
  • 05 Ashton
  • 14 Roberts
  • 25 Henry
  • 02 Wilson
  • 13 Byrom
  • 24 Bostwick
  • 15 Freeman (Long - 71' )
  • 20 Beardsley (Edwards - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Julian
  • 06 Edwards
  • 08 Long
  • 12 May
  • 18 Cowan
Ref: East
Att: 5,733

Match Stats

Shots

15 8

On target

9 3

Corners

3 3

Fouls

16 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:06 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +4:24

Effort from just inside the area by Joel Byrom strikes the post.

90:00 +2:31 Substitution

Substitution (Notts County) makes a substitution, with Liam Chilvers coming on for Alan Judge.

90:00 +0:48 Goal scored

Goal - Jeff Hughes - Notts Co 1 - 0 Stevenage Goal scored by Jeff Hughes from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Notts County 1-0 Stevenage.

88:57

Effort on goal by Cristian Montano from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

88:35

Don Cowan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

87:35

Unfair challenge on Alan Judge by Michael Bostwick results in a free kick. Alan Sheehan takes the free kick.

86:06 Substitution

Substitution Phil Edwards replaces Chris Beardsley.

85:07

Gavin Mahon delivers the ball, Chris Day makes a save.

84:25

Shot by Lee Hughes from 20 yards. Chris Day makes a save. Corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge from the right by-line, clearance by Jon Ashton.

83:33

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Joel Byrom from the right by-line, Chris Beardsley takes a shot. Clearance made by Gavin Mahon.

82:33

Neal Bishop takes a shot. Mark Roberts gets a block in.

82:13

Stacy Long takes a shot. Stuart Nelson makes a save.

81:33

Alan Judge crosses the ball.

80:10

Lee Hughes gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jon Ashton. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Day.

79:20

Alan Judge fouled by Michael Bostwick, the ref awards a free kick. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

78:58

Unfair challenge on Joel Byrom by Neal Bishop results in a free kick. Joel Byrom takes the direct free kick.

77:53

Effort from a long way out by Kieron Freeman goes wide right of the target.

76:20 Booking

Booking Cristian Montano receives a caution.

76:15

Cristian Montano gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ronnie Henry. Chris Day takes the indirect free kick.

75:36

The ball is sent over by Stacy Long, save made by Stuart Nelson.

74:39

Unfair challenge on Krystian Pearce by Don Cowan results in a free kick. Stuart Nelson takes the indirect free kick.

73:27

Don Cowan is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Stuart Nelson.

73:04

Centre by Alan Judge, clearance by Jon Ashton.

71:53

Foul by Jeff Hughes on Jon Ashton, free kick awarded. Chris Day takes the free kick.

71:34

Neal Bishop fouled by Chris Beardsley, the ref awards a free kick. Damion Stewart takes the free kick.

70:48 Substitution

Substitution Luke Freeman leaves the field to be replaced by Stacy Long.

68:57

Foul by Neal Bishop on Luke Freeman, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Luke Freeman, save by Stuart Nelson.

67:46

Luke Freeman sends in a cross, clearance made by Krystian Pearce.

65:58

Unfair challenge on Joel Byrom by Gavin Mahon results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Joel Byrom, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

65:24

The official flags Alan Sheehan offside. Free kick taken by Chris Day.

64:29

A cross is delivered by Alan Judge, Mark Roberts makes a clearance. Cristian Montano takes a shot. Save by Chris Day. Short corner taken by Alan Sheehan.

63:36

Effort from deep inside the area by Don Cowan misses to the left of the target.

62:22

Long range shot by Cristian Montano goes wide right of the target.

58:00

The referee blows for offside against Lee Hughes. Chris Day takes the free kick.

56:41

The ball is swung over by Lawrie Wilson, clearance made by Kieron Freeman.

55:48 Substitution

Substitution Don Cowan is brought on as a substitute for Darius Charles.

54:52

Michael Bostwick takes a shot. Gavin Mahon gets a block in.

54:15

Centre by Gavin Mahon, Ronnie Henry manages to make a clearance.

53:01

Foul by Krystian Pearce on Jon Ashton, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Chris Day.

52:18

Alan Sheehan takes the inswinging corner, Jon Ashton makes a clearance.

52:08

Lee Hughes takes a shot. Save made by Chris Day.

50:52

Lawrie Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Sheehan. The ball is swung over by Alan Sheehan, Shot from just outside the area by Alan Judge goes over the bar.

49:05

Luke Freeman has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

48:39

Joel Byrom decides to take the corner short.

48:02

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jeff Hughes. Chris Day takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Cristian Montano replaces Jonathan Forte.

45:00 +1:18 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Forte on Scott Laird. Chris Day takes the direct free kick.

43:39

Unfair challenge on Michael Bostwick by Neal Bishop results in a free kick. Ronnie Henry takes the direct free kick.

41:53

Effort from the edge of the box by Chris Beardsley goes wide of the left-hand upright.

39:50

Unfair challenge on Lawrie Wilson by Alan Sheehan results in a free kick. Michael Bostwick restarts play with the free kick. Ronnie Henry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan Judge. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

38:45

Jeff Hughes takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

37:58

Foul by Alan Judge on Joel Byrom, free kick awarded. Joel Byrom takes the direct free kick.

37:01

Damion Stewart challenges Luke Freeman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Laird takes the direct free kick.

36:15

The ball is swung over by Alan Judge, clearance made by Mark Roberts.

35:33

Alan Judge takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

29:11

Effort on goal by Luke Freeman from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

27:13

Foul by Luke Freeman on Jonathan Forte, free kick awarded. Stuart Nelson takes the indirect free kick.

25:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damion Stewart by Chris Beardsley. Free kick taken by Damion Stewart.

17:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Sheehan by Darius Charles. Alan Sheehan takes the free kick.

17:01

Scott Laird is caught offside. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

15:22

Neal Bishop takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

14:19

Foul by Lee Hughes on Chris Day, free kick awarded. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

13:10

Neal Bishop concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Beardsley. Free kick taken by Scott Laird.

12:53

Krystian Pearce fouled by Chris Beardsley, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Krystian Pearce.

12:31

The ball is crossed by Alan Sheehan, Lee Hughes takes a shot. Save by Chris Day.

11:25

Gavin Mahon concedes a free kick for a foul on Joel Byrom. Luke Freeman crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jeff Hughes makes a clearance.

10:12

Corner taken by Joel Byrom, save by Stuart Nelson.

9:46

The ball is swung over by Scott Laird, save made by Stuart Nelson.

9:19

Alan Judge takes a shot.

8:01

Jonathan Forte takes a shot.

6:29

Jonathan Forte challenges Luke Freeman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Freeman.

3:49

The official flags Kieron Freeman offside. Chris Day restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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