Lloyd Sam scored his first professional hat-trick as Notts County returned to the League One play-off places with victory over Yeovil.

The winger, on loan from Leeds, scored the only goal of the first half from Jeff Hughes's pass.

Jonathan Franks' close-range strike looked to have secured Yeovil a point and a first-ever draw against Notts.

Sam's second came from a mistake by goalkeeper Sam Walker and he completed his treble after Dele Adebola's pass.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Notts County manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I'm a positive person. I think a fair reflection would be that we didn't get the goals that we deserved for our play in the first half.

"Performance wise in the first half, free-flowing, entertaining, attacking, bums-off-seats football, with players playing their role within the team framework.

"There's some guts, desire, application - we didn't want the first half to end."

Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson told BBC Somerset:

"Even though I'm cool, calm and collected now, I'm really angry at how it went.

"Neither of them (first two goals) should have stood. Both of the goals killed us.

"It was an inexperienced referee and I thought he got conned a little bit by some of the things that were happening.

"Credit to Notts County - they were a clever, experienced team."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Notts County

  • 17 Nelson
  • 02 Kelly
  • 03 Sheehan
  • 24 Chilvers
  • 35 Stewart
  • 10 Bishop
  • 11 J Hughes
  • 14 Judge Booked (Harley - 90' )
  • 32 Sam
  • 09 L Hughes Booked (Adebola - 68' )
  • 40 Bogdanovic (Mahon - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 04 Edwards
  • 20 Freeman
  • 23 Harley
  • 31 Mahon
  • 30 Adebola

Yeovil Town

  • 01 Walker
  • 02 Ayling
  • 05 Huntington Booked
  • 17 Grounds
  • 28 Hinds Booked
  • 06 Blizzard
  • 08 Upson Booked
  • 12 Woods (Morris - 65' )
  • 14 D'Ath
  • 07 A Williams
  • 16 Franks (Agard - 83' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Stewart
  • 04 Ngala
  • 19 Haynes-Brown
  • 15 Morris
  • 18 Agard
Ref: Madley
Att: 5,852

Match Stats

Shots

23 6

On target

10 2

Corners

9 4

Fouls

7 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:05 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +4:34

Josh Morris delivers the ball.

90:00 +4:11

Dele Adebola is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:54

The assist for the goal came from Dele Adebola.

90:00 +2:54 Goal scored

Goal - Lloyd Sam - Notts Co 3 - 1 Yeovil Lloyd Sam finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Notts County 3-1 Yeovil.

88:55 Substitution

Substitution Jon Harley on for Alan Judge.

88:55

Corner taken by Alan Sheehan from the left by-line to the near post.

88:47

Alan Judge delivers the ball, blocked by Paul Huntington.

87:52 Booking

Booking Booking for Paul Huntington.

86:52 Goal scored

Goal - Lloyd Sam - Notts Co 2 - 1 Yeovil Lloyd Sam scores a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Notts County 2-1 Yeovil.

86:20

Kieran Agard takes a shot. Save made by Stuart Nelson.

85:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Chilvers on Andrew Williams. Josh Morris takes the free kick.

84:39

Alan Judge sends in a cross.

83:36

Damion Stewart challenges Andrew Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Luke Ayling.

82:39 Substitution

Substitution Kieran Agard is brought on as a substitute for Jonathan Franks.

82:39

Shot by Jeff Hughes from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

80:40

Alan Judge takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Huntington.

79:48

Centre by Alan Judge, Paul Huntington manages to make a clearance.

78:18 Goal scored

Goal - Jonathan Franks - Notts Co 1 - 1 Yeovil Jonathan Franks scores a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Notts County 1-1 Yeovil.

75:38

Centre by Jeff Hughes.

74:46

Richard Hinds challenges Dele Adebola unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alan Sheehan restarts play with the free kick.

74:13

Julian Kelly sends in a cross, Dominic Blizzard manages to make a clearance.

72:59

Dele Adebola gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Huntington. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

72:50

The ball is swung over by Lloyd Sam, Paul Huntington manages to make a clearance.

70:12

Lloyd Sam delivers the ball, Paul Huntington manages to make a clearance.

67:22 Substitution

Substitution Dele Adebola joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lee Hughes.

67:22 Substitution

Substitution Gavin Mahon comes on in place of Daniel Bogdanovic.

67:02

Alan Judge has an effort at goal from long range that misses to the right of the target.

65:30

Lee Hughes is caught offside. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

65:11

Alan Judge takes a shot. Blocked by Edward Upson.

64:21 Substitution

Substitution Josh Morris replaces Michael Woods.

63:58

Centre by Edward Upson, Headed effort from inside the area by Paul Huntington misses to the right of the goal.

63:38

Corner taken by Edward Upson played to the near post, Jeff Hughes makes a clearance.

63:02

Edward Upson takes the inswinging corner, save by Stuart Nelson.

61:49

Alan Judge sends in a cross, blocked by Paul Huntington.

61:05

A cross is delivered by Lloyd Sam, clearance made by Paul Huntington.

59:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Ayling on Lloyd Sam. Alan Sheehan takes the direct free kick.

58:45

The ball is swung over by Daniel Bogdanovic, save made by Sam Walker.

58:16

Centre by Andrew Williams.

57:02

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jonathan Franks. Stuart Nelson restarts play with the free kick.

56:07

Luke Ayling produces a cross, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

54:37

Inswinging corner taken by Alan Judge.

54:30

The ball is crossed by Lloyd Sam, Paul Huntington makes a clearance.

53:52

Effort on goal by Neal Bishop from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

52:33

The ball is sent over by Jonathan Grounds.

51:21

Andrew Williams takes a shot.

50:49

Unfair challenge on Richard Hinds by Lee Hughes results in a free kick. Paul Huntington takes the direct free kick.

49:35

Inswinging corner taken by Alan Sheehan, Sam Walker makes a save.

49:22

Shot by Julian Kelly from outside the box goes over the target.

47:53

Dominic Blizzard challenges Jeff Hughes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alan Sheehan takes the direct free kick.

46:42

A cross is delivered by Luke Ayling, clearance made by Damion Stewart.

45:33

The referee blows for offside. Stuart Nelson takes the indirect free kick.

45:25

The ball is swung over by Julian Kelly, clearance made by Luke Ayling.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +3:18 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +2:44

Alan Judge produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

45:00 +2:20

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Alan Sheehan from the right by-line, clearance by Richard Hinds.

45:00 +2:11

The ball is sent over by Julian Kelly, Jonathan Grounds makes a clearance.

43:18

Edward Upson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan Judge. Damion Stewart restarts play with the free kick.

42:28

Luke Ayling produces a cross, Liam Chilvers manages to make a clearance.

41:03 Booking

Booking Lee Hughes booked for unsporting behaviour.

40:40

A cross is delivered by Alan Judge, Headed effort from inside the area by Damion Stewart misses to the left of the target.

40:03

Corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge from the right by-line, Richard Hinds makes a clearance.

38:11 Booking

Booking Edward Upson goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

38:03

Edward Upson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeff Hughes. Alan Sheehan restarts play with the free kick.

36:34

Assist by Jeff Hughes.

36:34 Goal scored

Goal - Lloyd Sam - Notts Co 1 - 0 Yeovil Lloyd Sam gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Notts County 1-0 Yeovil.

36:25

Centre by Julian Kelly, Paul Huntington manages to make a clearance.

35:32

Jeff Hughes challenges Dominic Blizzard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Walker takes the free kick.

35:15

Neal Bishop takes a shot. Blocked by Lawson D'Ath.

34:19

Unfair challenge on Lawson D'Ath by Damion Stewart results in a free kick. Luke Ayling takes the direct free kick.

33:21

Effort from outside the penalty box by Daniel Bogdanovic goes wide left of the target.

29:53 Booking

Booking Alan Judge receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

29:44

Lawson D'Ath gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan Judge. Alan Sheehan restarts play with the free kick.

28:53

Alan Judge takes a long range shot harmlessly clearing the crossbar.

28:29

Lee Hughes takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Huntington.

26:23

Lloyd Sam crosses the ball, Paul Huntington manages to make a clearance.

23:21

Shot from just outside the box by Lawson D'Ath misses to the left of the goal.

22:40

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Edward Upson, clearance made by Jeff Hughes.

21:44

The ball is delivered by Jonathan Franks, clearance made by Damion Stewart.

21:22

Outswinging corner taken by Edward Upson, clearance made by Liam Chilvers.

20:42

Liam Chilvers challenges Andrew Williams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Luke Ayling takes the free kick.

18:58

Strike on goal comes in from Alan Sheehan from the free kick.

18:58 Booking

Booking Richard Hinds receives a caution.

18:48

Richard Hinds challenges Alan Judge unfairly and gives away a free kick.

18:35

A cross is delivered by Luke Ayling, Stuart Nelson makes a save.

17:52

Lloyd Sam crosses the ball, clearance made by Paul Huntington.

17:21

Alan Sheehan takes the inswinging corner, Paul Huntington manages to make a clearance.

17:01

Effort on goal by Lloyd Sam from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

15:01

The ball is crossed by Jonathan Grounds.

12:39

Alan Judge decides to take a short corner, Alan Judge produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.

11:05

Julian Kelly crosses the ball, Header by Lee Hughes from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

10:46

A cross is delivered by Alan Sheehan, Lawson D'Ath manages to make a clearance.

9:40

Unfair challenge on Liam Chilvers by Andrew Williams results in a free kick. Stuart Nelson takes the free kick.

8:52

Effort on goal by Daniel Bogdanovic from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

8:28

Julian Kelly takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Hinds.

7:56

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Edward Upson.

7:09

Corner taken by Alan Judge played to the near post, save by Sam Walker.

6:47

Lloyd Sam takes a shot. Save made by Sam Walker.

6:18

Edward Upson concedes a free kick for a foul on Daniel Bogdanovic. Stuart Nelson takes the direct free kick.

4:55

Alan Judge takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Hinds.

4:07

The ball is sent over by Julian Kelly, Dominic Blizzard makes a clearance.

2:23

Michael Woods takes a shot. Blocked by Neal Bishop.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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