ALAN Judge was the star for Notts County today as they beat Portsmouth 3-0 in League One at Meadow Lane.
The Magpies' midfielder scored a stunning goal and made two more for striker Yoann Arquin.
Summer-signing Arquin scored his first goal at Meadow Lane after just five minutes to put Notts 1-0 ahead.
Judge doubled their lead just two minutes into the second half and Arquin completed the rout on 57 minutes.
The Magpies made just one change from their 1-1 draw at MK Dons, with Jeff Hughes replacing Jamal Campbell-Ryce on the right wing.
Left-back Alan Sheehan was still sidelined with a hamstring injury so Carl Regan again deputised for the Irishman, joining Julian Kelly, Dean Leacock and Gary Liddle in defence, in front of goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
With Andre Boucaud banned, Joss Labadie partnered captain Neal Bishop in central midfield.
Francois Zoko started on the left wing and Judge was given an attacking role just behind lone striker Arquin.
Former Notts players Jon Harley and Luke Rodgers notably started for Pompey.
The Magpies made a super start and took a 1-0 lead after just five minutes.
Judge swung a corner into the Portsmouth penalty area and Arquin beat goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen from close range in front of the Kop.
Notts threatened again on 12 minutes.
Judge squared a free-kick across the edge of the box to Labadie and he drove the ball powerfully at goal, but defender Lubomir Michalik made a good block.
Judge then forced Andersen to punch clear under pressure on the edge of his six-yard box with a free-kick on 14 minutes and just three minutes later he curled a shot just over the bar from 20 yards.
Notts continued their onslaught on the Pompey goal and Judge created another chance on 19 minutes by measuring a pass magnificently over the visitors' defence for Jeff Hughes, who stretched to prod the ball at goal from eight yards, but straight at Andersen.
Portsmouth threatened for the first time on 22 minutes and it took good blocks by Kelly and then Liddle to deny Izale McLeod and Rodgers inside the penalty area.
Arquin then almost scored a second goal on 25 minutes from another Judge corner.
This time he met it with a header inside the six-yard box, but it hit a defender and the ball was deflected wide.
Undeterred, Notts went close again on 25 minutes.
Judge was again involved, typically, curling a cross into the box from the left that Zoko missed with his head and went just wide of the far post.
Judge was looking unstoppable and he forced Andersen into a good save on 33 minutes at the end of a superb attack.
The Magpies carved Portsmouth open with some lovely one-touch passing and Judge raced into the box and drove a low shot at goal, but Andersen blocked it with his legs.
Having dominated the first half, Notts survived a scare almost on the stroke of half-time.
Pompey captain Brian Howard strode forward unchallenged and hit a low shot narrowly wide of Bialkowski's left-hand post.
Notts introduced Campbell-Ryce for Bishop at the start of the second half, but it did not affect them and Judge scored a stunning goal to make it 2-0 on 47 minutes.
Arquin beat two players and passed to him 30 yards out and the rest was sublime as he smashed a shot at goal that flew past Andersen and inside his left-hand post.
Leading 2-0, the Magpies and Judge were in the mood for more and he made a third goal for Arquin on 57 minutes, pickpocketing Howard inside the Pompey box and passing to the French striker, who controlled the ball and then drove it low past Andersen.
Labadie then sent a powerful effort just wide on 63 minutes and Zoko hit a shot over the bar from 20 yards on 75 minutes, before Judge came off to a standing ovation on 82 minutes – and deservedly so too.
NOTTS: Bialkowski, Kelly, Leacock, Liddle, Regan (Wholey, 62), Bishop (Campbell-Ryce, 46), Labadie, J Hughes, Zoko, Judge (Bencherif, 82), Arquin. Subs: Spiess, Mahon, L Hughes, Showunmi.
PORTSMOUTH: Andersen, Dumbuya, Michalik, Gypes, Harley, Williamson, Russell, Howard, Compton (Walker, 82), Rodgers (Obita, 77), McLeod (Harris, 58). Subs: Eastwood, Thompson, Ertl, Webster.
ATTENDANCE: 6,834 (816 away).