Notts County ended pre-season on a high note with a strong performance against Spanish Segunda Division outfit CA Osasuna at Meadow Lane.
Goals from transfer target Gary Jones and skipper Hayden Mullins secured a 2-0 victory for the Magpies, which lifted the spirits of the home faithful ahead of next week’s Sky Bet League 1 opener with Preston North End.
Another of the players that manager Shaun Derry is hoping to add to his squad, Roy Carroll, had the Black and White Army signing ’sign him up’ with a two outstanding saves in the opening stages - first a reaching parry, before a remarkable clawed stop.
This allowed Notts to strike first through Jones, who turned to send a left-footed dipping half volley into the top-right corner.
After Ronan Murray had a close-range finish ruled out for offside, County doubled the lead.
On this occasion, Jones was the provider with a delightfully weighted free-kick into the area, which allowed Mullins to power home with an unstoppable thumping header.
The second period was a quieter affair, as both sides made changes, though County offered the best of the efforts, with Zeli Ismail forcing the goalkeeper into a fine low save from range and Ronan Murray sending a looping header marginally wide of the mark.
Following the midweek disappointment against Birmingham City, it was an encouraging display by the Magpies ahead of the new season.
Osasuna, who defeated Championship Brentford 4-0 earlier in the week, provided more strong opposition and a win puts the squad in a confident mood in the build-up to the trip to Deepdale.
Full Time Score: Notts County 2-0 AC Osasuna
Attendance: 1,114
Notts County Starting XI: Carroll, Dumbuya, Mullins, Hollis, Adams, Ismail, Smith, Jones, G. Thompson, Murray, Cassidy.
Subs From: Spiess, Wroe, McKenzie, Thompson, Noble, Balmy, Whitehouse, Dawson, Trialist.