Stuart Maynard purring over quality of Notts County captain Matt Palmer

Notts County boss Stuart Maynard was left purring over a pass from his captain Matt Palmer during their thrilling 5-3 win at Cheltenham.

Their first and fifth goals were scored by Alassana Jatta, but Josh Martin’s second was set up by a quality ball from Palmer.

“If Kevin De Bruyne plays that, we talk about it for weeks and weeks,” Maynard said.

“It was some pass and it was an incredible performance and result we’ve got, with the players dead on their feet due to the way the schedule has fallen, along with illness, niggles and injuries.

“To come back in the way that we did was incredible, especially after conceding so early on. I am really proud of the group and their mentality and desire to want to keep going and fighting.

“Huge credit to Conor Grant, who has been out for the best part of three months. Josh Martin, who has had limited minutes and he came on the pitch and was outstanding. All of them who came on.

“It’s a squad game and that has shown today and I am delighted for AJ (Jatta), who keeps getting in there.”

The home side took an early lead through Sam Stubbs against his former loan club.

The defender nodded in from close range from Jordan Thomas corner in the fourth minute.

County hit back through Jatta’s first and Martin to lead 2-1 at the break.

Jatta capitalised on Stubbs’ error before rounding Joe Day in the 26th minute and Martin finished calmly after that fine ball through from Palmer dissected the home defence.

Cheltenham responded through half-time substitute Ryan Bowman after another Thomas corner, with the forward the finishing from close range in the 47th minute.

But George Abbott, who hit the post in the first half, unleashed a superb strike into the top right corner after Palmer’s corner was cleared in the 58th minute made it 3-2, sparking a run of three goals in four minutes.

Joel Colwill levelled for Cheltenham with his ninth of the season on the hour after Lewis Payne’s cross, but Sam Austin latched onto Jack Hinchy’s pass in the 62nd minute to make it 4-3 and Jatta made sure of the points in stoppage time, touching in Dan Crowley’s sublime lofted pass.

Cheltenham boss Michael Flynn felt three of County’s goals were late Christmas presents as his side’s six-game unbeaten run was ended.

“It was a really good game for the neutral and Notts County played some very good football, but we gave them three goals,” he said.

“The fifth one I am not too bothered about because we are chasing and going for the equaliser.

“The first and second goals were poor and even the third, which was a great strike, we had the warning first half because he (Abbott) did it then too.

“The fourth one looked offside, but it was more bad, lazy defending from us.

“When you look at it, we have given them the points today, but that’s not taking anything away from them because they do play some really good football. I am just disappointed with how we defended.”