Luke Varney scored in the second half for the Alex's reserves, but they couldn't come from behind as Notts County ran out 2-1 winners in this afternoon's friendly at Meadow Lane.

Neil Baker's side, which featured nine players with first team experience, made a poor start to the game as the Magpies quickly opened up a two-goal lead, but a much improved second half display so the Alex on top, although unable to get the all important equaliser after Varney had given them hope.

Notts County took the lead early on when trialist Anthony Howell fired across the Alex keeper to make it 1-0, the Shepshed Dynamo striker finishing clinically as he tried to impress watching manager Gudjon Thordasson.

It was 2-0 soon after as midfielder Stacy Long scored a superb individual goal, carrying the ball 25 yards from the half-way line before firing into the bottom corner of the Crewe net.

Michael Higdon, David Vaughan and Robert Lloyd were all then frustrated as efforts were saved by Magpies keeper Shaun Marshall, but Varney exventually scored just after the break.

Despite several close shaves in the dying minutes, the hosts held on to win, but with the Alex picking up no knocks and seeing several first team players come through the full 90 minutes, the outing can be seen as useful, despite the result.

Team: Trialist, Darren Moss, Richard Walker, Chris McCready, Anthony Tonkin, Michael O'Connor, Adie Moses, Robert Lloyd, David Vaughan, Luke Varney, Michael Higdon

Subs: Pavol Suhaj, Paul Bignot, Kyle Wilson