Notts County have a Chesterfield concern as winger fires key message

Notts County surged back into the National League play-off positions as Ruben Rodrigues and Eli Sam sealed victory at Woking.

Rodrigues had gone close to giving Ian Burchnall's side the lead when he volleyed wide of the post after being picked out by a raking pass from Kyle Cameron.

But the Portuguese attacker finally broke the deadlock when he rifled in from the edge of the box just before the break.

Notts' potency in the final third was much better in the second half as Kyle Woottonsaw a shot superbly saved by Craig Ross who tipped it around the post for a corner.

Jayden Richardson's cross then flashed across goal after a fine run but nobody was on hand to capitalise.

Minutes later, Ross was required to show his reflexes again when he denied Aaron Nemane after he had burst into the area following a powerful run.

But the Woking goalkeeper's resistance was finally broken when Sam produced an emphatic finish after Nemane had teed him up perfectly

It wasn't a vintage Notts performance by any stretch of the imagination and so often this season they have been lauded for being one of the most attractive sides to watch in the National League.

We have become so accustomed to their intensity, flair and quality that their opening 45 minutes here came as a major surprise in what was a dull first half.

It wasn't until a terrific finish from Ruben Rodrigues broke the deadlock before the break that fans inside the Laithwaite Community Stadium got value for their ticket price.

But that goal before half-time allowed Notts to regroup knowing Woking would have to show more adventure after the interval.

Indeed the performance in the second half was in stark contrast to the first and even then you still felt they could still had a couple