Notts County’s relegation woes were handed a huge boost as they banked a shock 2-1 victory at promotion-chasing Forest Green.

On what was a bad day at the office for Mark Cooper's side it was the Magpies who were first off the grid, almost catching Rovers cold inside the first two minutes.

Straight from the whistle Lewis Ward showed speed of thought to twice deny Virgil Gomis and then glove over a Enzio Bolderwijn curler as Neil Ardley’s side started like a train.

Rovers remained off the rails – Bolderwijn cutting through a flat-footed defence to spank his strike into the grateful Ward.

Carl Winchester spanked one out of the ground and then Joseph Mills watched his howitzer deflected over as Rovers looked to find their feet.

County continued to threaten, but Gomis must have left his shooting boots at home when hitting the side netting with just an over exposed Ward to beat.

As a contest you couldn’t take your eyes off it, but the sheep in the field overlooking the stadium had turned their backs on the contest.

Rovers start to huff and showed some puff – Christian Doidge fizzing his strike into the midriff of County keeper Ryan Schofield.

The proverbial tea cups would have been chucked in the Rovers changing room at the break but it was County who offered an early moment- Stead skewing wide.

Ward was head and shoulders Rovers’ man of the first-half and he was on his mettle again – taking off to tip a rocket from the dangerous Boldewijn on 50 minutes.

Rovers continued to stutter but Reid tried to buck the trend – arrowing in an angled drive which Schofield parried clear.

County scored the goal their dominance warranted on 57 minutes. Mitch Rose’s torpedo throw was headed clear by Gavin Gunning, but the ball dropped to Jim O’Brien who wrapped his foot around the ball to beat Ward from just inside the box.

Rovers were back in it six minutes later. Ryan Schofield was booked after punching the ball outside the box and Joseph Mills took the gift by smashing home the subsequent free-kick from the edge of the box.

The Magpies picked Rovers off with a sublime moment from Boldewijn – cutting in from the left the County man unleashed a right-footed howitzer to beat the flying Ward all ends up.

Despite six minutes of added time, Rovers offered little and were indebted to more brilliance from Ward to stop County increasing their lead.