sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Notts County produce another dramatic comeback to win National League play-off final on penalties

Home> Football

Updated 21:00 13 May 2023 GMT+1Published 18:29 13 May 2023 GMT+1

Notts County produce another dramatic comeback to win National League play-off final on penalties

Notts County would have earned automatic promotion in every other National League season but were beaten to it by Wrexham.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Notts County earned promotion to League Two via the play-offs, but they needed a penalty shootout against Chesterfield to do it.

Luke Williams' team needed luck, a never say die attitude and composure from the penalty spot, as they came from behind twice to win on penalties.

Andrew Dallas' early penalty had looked to be enough to earn the win for Chesterfield, only for County to pull off their usual late comeback with an 88th minute equaliser through John Bostock.

Armando Dobra's strike just three minutes into extra time looked to be enough, only for Ruben Rodrigues to strike with two minutes gone of the second half.

Advert

Chesterfield then missed two penalties, to County's one, and it meant the Magpies were back into the Football League.

In every other season of the National League, County would have earned automatic promotion back to the Football League, after their league campaign ended.

Williams' side earned 107 points over their 46 games, falling just four short of the Wrexham juggernaut, thanks in part to Ben Foster's late penalty save in the game between the sides.

With only one automatic promotion place on offer, it meant the Meadow Lane club had to drop down to the six team play-offs, getting a bye into the semi-finals.

Last week, County came mightily close to falling at their first hurdle as they went two goals down against Boreham Wood in the semi.

They required an equaliser deep into second half of injury time to take the game to extra time and the did the same at the end of the added 30 minutes to avoid penalties.

That set up a meeting at Wembley with Chesterfield who finished the league campaign in third place but so far behind County they never had a chance of being part of the automatic fight.

Aside from the huge points difference, Williams' side had also won the away game in the league whilst they'd drawn at home to the Spireites.

As with the game against Boreham Wood, the favourites started the game poorly and found themselves behind after just six minutes.

Goalkeeper Sam Slocombe brought someone down, having previously given away an indirect free kick in the area, and Dallas slotted home from the spot.

Chesterfield continued to have the better of the chances in the first half and kept the lead, which County were struggling to come back from.

They plugged away in the second half, without ever looking too threatening, and once again looked to be failing at their attempts at promotion.

However they equalised late on once again, in now typical fashion, with former Tottenham Hotspur player Bostock scoring a free kick at the near post, with keeper Ross Fitzsimons not covering himself in glory.

With just three minutes on the clock at the start of extra time, Dobra curled in a brilliant finish from the edge of the area, leaving Slocombe no chance.

However, it took just two minutes of the second half of extra time for Rodrigues to level things up again, with a finish into the ground that bounced over the keeper.

Williams then took a gamble by removing Slocombe with moments left of the additional 30 minutes and replacing him with Archie Mair.

The young Scotsman saved two penalties in the shootout, whilst Bostock's ridiculous chip attempt hit the crossbar for County, earning their promotion.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics:Ā Football, Non-League, League Two, Wrexham

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

X

@Sidler28

Recommended reads

Dennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
6 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Ralf Rangnick told Man Utd to sign current transfer target in 2022 but they ignored him

    United ignored Rangnick, who was "adamant" that the club should have signed him.

    Football
  • ITV
    6 hours ago

    ITV break silence on claims I'm a Celeb contestant kicked Jimmy Bullard

    The broadcaster has released an official statement addressing the major fight.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    6 hours ago

    Why Jadon Sancho could play 'crucial' role in Man Utd’s bid to sign Aurelien Tchouameni

    Sancho has made a major transfer decision in recent hours.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Liam Rosenior was 'stitched up' by two Chelsea players just weeks before sacking

    Gary Neville has made an interesting observation following Rosenior's sacking.

    Football
  • Notts County have sealed the most dramatic playoff comeback in history
  • Ryan Reynolds keeps Notts County promise after they secure play-off final place
  • Punter wins bet of the season after Chelsea's dramatic comeback against Real Betis in Conference League final
  • Premier League clubs set for major boost if Sheffield United win Championship play-off final due to little-known rule