Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Notts County thrashed Alfreton Town 5–0 in their first pre-season friendly of summer 2026, with goals from Gibbons, Sanders, Iwunze (pen), Grant and Robertson.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Stuart Maynard's side took control inside the first 25 minutes. Full-back James Gibbons opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, firing home from close range after a sustained spell of possession. Max Sanders doubled the lead 11 minutes later with a smart finish from midfield, and the Magpies went into the break 2–0 up.
Notts County picked up where they left off after half-time. Harrison Iwunze converted a penalty in the 52nd minute — his first goal in a Notts shirt — to make it three. Conor Grant added a fourth in the 71st minute with a composed strike, and Scott Robertson rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute to complete a convincing afternoon's work.
The Turning Point
The match was effectively decided inside the first 34 minutes. Gibbons' opener settled any early-season rust, and Sanders' goal before the half-hour made it a steep climb for Alfreton. The penalty early in the second half extinguished any flicker of a home comeback, turning a comfortable lead into an unassailable one.
Key Performers
James Gibbons — The full-back got the Magpies rolling with a well-taken opener and provided width throughout the first half.
Harrison Iwunze — The striker scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot and led the line with physicality, with the YouTube vlog from The Magpie Circle Podcast capturing his live spot-kick.
Conor Grant — Added a fourth goal with a calm finish and was a creative force in midfield.
Scott Robertson — Rounded off the scoring with the final goal of the afternoon, capping a strong all-round display.
Veteran duo Aden Flint and Harlee Dean both featured in central defence, according to match footage, and kept a clean sheet against their National League North opponents.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The 5–0 scoreline and 2–0 half-time lead reflect a controlled, professional performance rather than a frantic one. Notts County scored in every quarter of the game — 23', 34', 52', 71', 90' — suggesting fitness levels held up across the full 90 minutes. The fact that five different players scored points to a spread of attacking threats rather than over-reliance on one source. At the other end, Flint and Dean's presence in central defence helped secure a clean sheet against a side that operate two divisions below the Magpies.
What It Means
This was Notts County's first pre-season fixture of summer 2026, part of a schedule that also includes friendlies against Danish sides Viborg FF (11 July) and Randers FC (14 July), as confirmed by the club's official website. For Alfreton, this was their third pre-season outing, following a run of build-up games ahead of the 2026–27 National League North campaign.
The result extends Notts County's unbeaten run against Alfreton to five meetings (four wins, one draw) since 2020, with the Magpies scoring 16 goals across those fixtures.
Verdict
A professional, no-fuss start to pre-season from Notts County. Five different goalscorers, a clean sheet, and minutes in the legs for experienced campaigners like Flint and Dean. The Magpies ticked every box a first friendly demands without ever needing to leave second gear.
Match Events
Key match events between Alfreton Town and Notts County — 5 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2020
Alfreton Town vs Notts County Head to Head Results· 5
Alfreton Town and Notts County have met 5 times — Alfreton Town won 0, Notts County won 4, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2020. Notts County leads the head-to-head with 4 victories from 5 meetings. A combined 20 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 4.00 per match (4 for the home side, 16 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 3 matches (60%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 4 games (80%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Notts County are currently unbeaten in the last 5 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–1 in 2024.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 5 Jul 2026