Liam Noble brace sinks Crawley Town

Liam Noble scored twice, including one from the penalty spot, as Notts County moved four points clear of the League Two drop zone with a 3-1 win against Crawley Town.

The visitors, who started the game outside the relegation places on goal difference, threatened an early breakthrough at Meadow Lane with Luke Rooney and Rhys Murphy having shots stopped by Roy Carroll.

However, the Northern Irishman was unable to stop Murphy, who turned home Bobson Bawling's cross on 24 minutes for the Sussex outfit.

County hit back just after the half-hour mark as Michael Edwards rose highest to send his close-range header beyond the reach of Freddie Woodman.

The Magpies then took the lead within 60 seconds of getting back on level terms as Adam Campbell teed up Noble, who rifled the ball into the top corner.

Within minutes of the restart, the home side were awarded a penalty after former Crawley striker Izale McLeod was bundled over in the box by Christian Scales. Noble duly stroked his spot kick into the bottom corner of Woodman's net.

Graham Burke tried to pull a goal back for Town, but was denied by Carroll before Edwards rounded off a comfortable victory with a close-range finish for County's fourth late on.