Macaulay Langstaff added a hat-trick of predatory close-range finishes to his exponentially-growing goal tally, which was supplemented by further strikes from his long time centre-forward partner Cedwyn Scott and left-wing back Adam Chicksen as Notts County delivered a seismic reaffirmation of their blossoming title credentials at Victoria Road.

It condemned a horrifically below-par Dagenham & Redbridge to their heaviest defeat in six years, during which the atmosphere amongst supporters became toxic towards under-fire manager Daryl McMahon, who cut a miserable figure while describing it as the worst performance he's overseen in over 300 games from the dugout.

The one-sided dynamic was established from the very outset, eventually increasing to the point of complete domination that was not relinquished from the moment Langstaff bagged his first. Notts sensed blood and never relented even when the game was beyond doubt, ultimately yielding the deserved scoreline.

  • Story of the match

This was a clash between two sides with similar financial resources, who deploy the same 5-3-2 formation enacted by comparable-quality players, thus alluding to a tight contest potentially settled by fine margins, as was the case with Notts' 2-1 victories against the Daggers last term.

However, in actuality they were stratospheres apart, the Magpies vastly superior in every single department as they sliced through their hosts with constant regularity and ease to romp to a victory that should draw real attention to both teams for contrasting reasons.

Cedwyn Scott felt entitled to a penalty after just two minutes due to having his shirt pulled, while a corner caused problems in the home area minutes later without amounting to anything significant. These were early indicators of what would follow.

It took 18 minutes for the first weighty blow to be inflicted upon the hosts, at the hands or rather deadly right boot of the league's deadliest marksman Macauley Langstaff. After Aaron Nemane's cross was inadvertently stopped dead off the back of Omar Mussa, the ever-alert striker took the loose ball into his stride, turned and fired into the corner.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, his eyes were lighting up again as Josh Hare's error vacated the space to go through one-on-one, but fellow defender Nikola Tavares managed to recover in time to snuff out the danger. 

The relentless pressure ramped up even more, Nemane then taking advantage of a scandalous amount of space to unleash a speculative effort from distance that cannoned off the crossbar. Fortune had kept Dagenham in the game, but only delayed the inevitable because just three minutes later the long overdue second finally arrived.

Rodrigues' delivery was only partially cleared by Tavares to Nemane, who struck low, through the legs of his own teammate Langstaff. While home players stood static, Scott was alert enough to anticipate the trajectory just beyond the far post, and nipped into that very region to scoop in from a tight angle while unmarked.

Cedwyn Scott finds the net from a tight angle to double Notts' lead. (Image: Notts County FC)

It was men against boys, and the magnificent Magpies weren't yet done for the half as the easiest goal of them all materialised in stoppage time. Home supporters were already desperate for the whistle, even more so after watching a free-kick find Jim O'Brien completely unmarked, as was Scott from the ensuing cross.

His shot proved too fierce for Elliot Justham to handle, the keeper spilling it back towards the net where Langstaff was lurking to convert surely the most straightforward goal of his career on the very line, in was the last meaningful act before the hosts finally got fifteen minutes' respite from the overbearing pressure. 

Mo Sagaf replaced Omar Mussa during the interval as McMahon tried to inject more energy into midfield, where Notts had been afforded the freedom to transition up the pitch without much resistance. The substitute did go close with a fizzing effort from distance, but it wasn't long before normal service resumed. 

Kyle Cameron missed the target when placed well enough to do otherwise, before Sam Austin - himself off the bench - made a brilliant impact by putting Scott through, only for a defender to intervene, then forced a superb save from the luckless Justham.

A period of dull monotony then unfolded as the contest seemed at risk of fizzling out, which most teams carrying a three-goal advantage wouldn't have been overly averse too. However, Luke Williams' exceptionally-drilled outfit were in no mood to take their foot off the gas and soon added a quick-fire double to give the result the gloss it deserved.

Daggers went to pieces in their own box again, with Tavares calamitously taking a mis-swipe at Palmer's centre, only managing to deflect it to an unmarked Rodrigues. He calmly slid it to Chicksen, who had all the time in the world to effortlessly cut inside Elliott Johnson before firing into the far corner.

Disaster all round for the East Londoners, and no sooner had Justham picked the ball out the net when he was doing so again moments after the latest kick-off. Chicksen was left in acres again inside the box when the ball was advanced upfield, the energetic wing-back this time teeing up Kyle Cameron for a low strike that was redirected home by Langstaff.

The suffering would not escalate any further, Notts County left to savour an electric performance characterised by high intensity and magnificent football, which showcases just how lofty their ceiling is under Williams. They remain unbeaten, gathering more momentum with every passing week. 

  • Player of the Match

Macaulay Langstaff (Notts County) | There really is no contest. Langstaff's hat-trick may have seemed simple in terms of the finishes themselves, but constantly being in position to dispatch such opportunities underline his outstanding ability at a level he has taken to seamlessly. After habitually netting braces, taking home the matchball for the first ever time in professional football will come as a massive source of delight, and probably relief too, for the ex-Gateshead frontman.

  • Lineups

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Elliot Justham; Mauro Vilhete, Elliott Johnson (Josh Walker 68'), Josh Hare, Sam Ling, Myles Weston; Nikola Tavares, Omar Mussa 🟨 (Mo Sagaf 46'), Matt Robinson; Paul McCallum, Junior Morias

NOTTS COUNTY: Sam Slocombe; Adam Chicksen ⚽, Kyle Cameron, Aden Baldwin, Richard Brindley, Aaron Nemane (Geraldo Bajrami 66'); Jim O'Brien (Sam Austin 60'), Matt Palmer, Rúben Rodrigues; Macaulay Langstaff ⚽⚽⚽, Cedwyn Scott ⚽ (Ed Francis 🟨 73')