Vanarama National League Promotion Final, Saturday 13th May
Part One of my Wembley weekend saw me at the National League Promotion Final as Nottinghamshire's Notts County did battle with Derbyshire's Chesterfield with the winner knowing they would end their lengthily stays in the Non League pyramid and return to the Football League.
County of course so nearly went up automatically after amassing 107 points in their league campaign, which in a normal season would probably win the division by miles, but unfortunately for the Pies they finish four points behind champions Wrexham, meaning they would have to go through the unpredictability of the play offs if they were to join the Welsh side in the EFL next season.
And they were up against Chesterfield who although they finished a place behind them in third, were twenty three points behind them when the league campaign finished, which kind of put in perspective how far ahead the top two sides were over the season, but this counted for nowt now and it was all on the day as they say for a place in League Two next season.
Both sides had to battle through tense and tiring play off semi finals last weekend, County trailed Boreham Wood 2-0 at half time before fighting back to level in the 97th minute and then winning it in the final minute of extra time, whereas Chesterfield saw Bromley level in the 99th minute to take their semi final to extra time as well, before the Spireites eventually won out 3-2 as well after the extra half hour. Drama in the bucket loads then, and today was not to be any different either.
The game began in bizarre fashion too as County keeper Sam Slocombe played a goal kick to himself, yes you heard that right, to himself, meaning an indirect free kick inside the box for Chesterfield, I have never ever seen a keeper do this before and am not sure what Slocombe was thinking to be honest, but luckily the shot was blocked, however moments later Slocombe's dodgy start was continued when he brought down Andrew Dallas inside the box for a spot kick, and Dallas picked himself up to dispatch this to give the Spireites a fifth minute lead.
Notts County, who had won a club-record 32 league games during their campaign, struggled to muster a meaningful response in the opening forty five minutes and were having to scramble to stay in touch with their opponents, although the Magpies did improve after the break and saw Sam Austin send a shot over the bar from the edge of the box and Connell Rawlinson waste a golden chance when steering a header wide which looked in for all money.
Chesterfield were looking leggy as the second half went on but were creeping closer and closer to the finishing line and were defending heroically in front of a crowd of over 38,000 in what was a superb atmosphere it has to be said, but it looked as if 23,000 of those fans from Nottingham were going to be going home disappointed, that was until the 87tb minute.
After Liam Mandeville had squandered a late chance to seal victory for Chesterfield following an appalling pass from keeper Slocombe, Notts veteran John Bostock caught Spireites keeper Ross Fitzsimons at his near post with a free kick which the keeper fumbled into the corner of the net, meaning this final would go to extra time, just like both sides semi finals had done, they were both doing this the hard way that was for sure.
Momentum then it seemed was with the Magpies then? But what do we know hey, as this crazy final saw Chesterfield gain the upper hand once again three minutes into the extra half hour, and what a goal it was, worthy of winning any game of football, as Armando Dobra curled home a wonderful finish into the far corner, and those Chesterfield fans were bouncing again, Notts looked shell shocked, as were their fans, what had they got left?
Well, just enough as it turned out as this now topsy turvy contest was levelled up once again in the 108th minute as Ruben Rodrigues mishit an effort into the turf and saw it bounce perfectly over Fitzsimons and into the net to get those Magpies fans behind that goal bouncing once again and believing again too, the atmosphere was a fever pitch by now, and nobody knew where this contest was heading.
Both sets of players were really struggling with fatigue by now, both had given their all for the cause, and it was a shame one of these sides would end up losing this one, but there must always be a winner and a loser of course, and this would be decided from the penalty spot after neither side could find a winner, this one was going all the way, as many had predicted it might do.
Who could hold their nerve and win their side promotion? Notts County had subbed keeper Slocombe for sub keeper Archie Mair just before the end of extra time for the penalty shoot out, and it proved to be a masterstroke from them, as he ended up saving two spot kicks to set up match point for the Magpies at 3-2 in the shootout, but Bostock, who had netted the late leveller in normal time, tried a Panenka and saw it hit the bar, what was he thinking, and it allowed Chesterfield to level the shoot out at 3-3.
Drama till the end then, in keeping with the bonkers game we had just witnessed before, but County still had one penalty left to win it, match point number two, and thankfully for Bostock, and County, Cedwyn Scott netted the decisive spot kick to end the contest and send Notts County up into the Football League after the most dramatic of finals.
Victory for the 161-year-old Magpies, who were founder members of the Football League in 1888, ended their four-year non-league exile whilst defeat consigned Chesterfield to a sixth season in the National League, it was tough on the Spireites but they will now have to regroup in the summer and try and go again next season, Notts will have EFL football to look forward to next season and will no doubt try to strengthen in the summer before joining Wrexham on embarking on a Football League season once again.
A wonderful wonderful game of football, drama, excitement, a wonderful atmosphere, and a thoroughly enjoyable day at Wembley was had, thankyou to both sides and fans for making it just so.....
Full time Chesterfield 2 Notts County 2 (aet; Notts County won 4-3 on penalties)
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