Spencer reinvigorates County

A stunning debut strike from James Spencer boosted Notts County's relegation fight as they sealed a 3-0 win against Coventry.

The former Huddersfield striker, who was making his first start after signing for the club this week, sent Meadow Lane into a frenzy with a classy 30-yard strike in the first half. And the goal was bookmarked by a Hayden Mullins effort early on and a late penalty from stand-in skipper Alan Sheehan, as Coventry had no answer to the hosts' pace and trickery. It had taken the Magpies just 13 minutes to take the lead, when Mullins emphatically met a Jamal Campbell-Ryce centre, and Spencer's brilliance then put them further ahead. Coventry tried to summon a fight-back in the second half but, despite being backed by more than 3,500 travelling supporters, they failed to trouble a Magpies defence superbly marshalled by Sheehan. And it was the skipper who wrapped up the win from the penalty spot after Campbell-Ryce was brought down in the area towards the end.