Recap: Chesterfied suffer late heartbreak against Notts County in play-offs

Chesterfield head to Notts County today (4pm KO) to decide who progresses to the semi-finals of the National League play-offs.
Notts County v Chesterfield - live updates.Notts County v Chesterfield - live updates.
Notts County v Chesterfield - live updates.

The Magpies finished one place and one point above the Spireites so they have home advantage in this one-off tie.

The match will go to extra-time and penalties if it finishes in a stalemate.

The winner of this clash will play Torquay United away next weekend.

Liam Norcliffe is at Meadow Lane and will have all the build-up, team news, updates and reaction.

Notts County v Chesterfield: LIVE UPDATES

Key Events

  • FT: Notts County 3 v 2 Chesterfield
  • Spireites concede in 90th minute to crash out of play-offs
  • Boss James Rowe not happy with free-kick decision which led to winner
  • Blues led twice through Danny Rowe’s long-range free-kick and Liam Mandeville’s strike
  • Goalkeeper James Montgomery played last 30 minutes injured
  • Notts play Torquay away in semi-finals next week
  • One change for Chesterfield as Whittle replaces Taylor
  • (3-4-2-1): Montgomery; Evans, Gunning(c), Maguire; Carline, Weston, Oyeleke, Whittle; Mandeville, Clarke; Rowe. Subs: Taylor, McCourt, Whelan, Tyson, Yussuf.

Town counter with Mandeville, he plays in McCourt whose shot/cross is blocked. Wide open this game.

An hour gone. Chesterfield lead 2-1. Montgomery in a lot of discomfort. Town need to protect him.

First Town sub - 59 mins

Oyeleke hobbles off and is replaced by McCourt. Montgomery is back up with a strapping on his knee.

Oh dear. James Montgomery has gone down injured. Town have no sub ‘keeper on the bench.

Have started well again this half. Miller has just skinned Carline and Gunning cut out the cross. Then Wootton almost got in with a ball over the top. 53 played, 1-2.

Chesterfield got themselves in a bit of a mix-up and Notts flashed the ball across the six-yard box but there was nobody there for the hosts.

Goes well over the bar from Reeves.

Rawlinson off, Knowles on.

We’re back underway in second-half

This 45 minutes will probably feel about 10 years.

HT thoughts from fan writer Ben

Half time then and a welcome chance to pause for breath! Notts County 1-2 Chesterfield at the break, and it’s a lead The Spireites have really had to battle for. The hosts have enjoyed much of the play in that first half, though to Town’s credit, they haven’t let County translate that into an awful lot of meaningful chances. And if anyone needed proof of James Rowe’s side’s ability to play on the counter, that second goal was certainly it, a textbook breakaway which means The Spireites go into half-time in front. The job is far from done though. If the second half follows the pattern of the first, Town will have a considerable amount of defending to do, and therefore they can’t afford any drop in intensity or concentration, or any errors like that which led to Notts County’s equaliser. To summarise, Chesterfield are in a good place, but there are many more obstacles to navigate if they are to get across the line here. Here is where I would usually say bring on the second forty-five, but I don’t think my nerves are looking forward to it to be honest!

Spireites lead at the break

HT: Notts County 1 v 2 Chesterfield