2023 National League play-off final

Not to be confused with 2023 National League Championship Series.

2023 National League play-off final

Notts County players and supporters celebrate shortly after the match's conclusion.
Event	2022–23 National League
Notts County Chesterfield 2 2
After extra time Notts County won 4–3 on penalties
Date	13 May 2023 (2023-05-13)
Venue	Wembley Stadium, London
Referee	Matthew Corlett
Attendance	38,138
Weather	Cloudy 13 °C (55 °F) [1]
← 2022 2024 →

The 2023 National League play-off final, known as the Vanarama National League Promotion Final for sponsorship reasons, was an association football match played on 13 May 2023 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Chesterfield and Notts County. The match determined the second and final team to gain promotion from the National League, the fifth tier of English football, to EFL League Two. The champions of the 2022–23 National League season gained automatic promotion to EFL League Two, while the teams placed from second to seventh took part in the play-offs; Notts County finished in second place while Chesterfield ended the season in third position. Boreham Wood and Bromley were the losing semi-finalists, while Barnet and Woking had lost at the play-off eliminator stage.

The match, which was refereed by Matthew Corlett, was played in front of a crowd of 38,138. It ended 1–1 after normal time and was 2–2 by the end of extra time. A penalty shootout was therefore required to determine the winner. Archie Mair, the Notts County goalkeeper who was brought on as a substitute shortly before the end of extra time, saved attempts from Chesterfield's Darren Oldaker and Jeff King. Although John Bostock missed the chance to win the shootout for Notts County, Cedwyn Scott scored with their following kick, and Notts County won the final 4–3 on penalties.

The following season, Notts County's first back in the English Football League since 2019, saw them finish 14th in League Two. Chesterfield ended in the 2023–24 National League season by winning promotion as champions.

Route to the final

Main article: 2022–23 National League

National League final table, leading positions ^[2]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Wrexham	46	34	9	3	116	43	+73	111
2	Notts County	46	32	11	3	117	42	+75	107
3	Chesterfield	46	25	9	12	85	52	+33	84
4	Woking	46	24	10	12	71	48	+23	82
5	Barnet	46	21	11	14	75	67	+8	74
6	Boreham Wood	46	19	15	12	52	40	+12	72
7	Bromley	46	18	17	11	68	53	+15	71

Notts County (the Magpies) finished the season in second place in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system, one place ahead of Chesterfield (the Spireites). Both therefore missed out on the only automatic place for promotion to EFL League Two and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the second promoted team. Notts County became the first club to earn 100 points or more and fail to earn automatic promotion in any English domestic league where automatic promotion is in effect, as they finished the season four points behind the league champions Wrexham, while Chesterfield finished a further 23 points behind Notts County. ^[2]

Under the National League's play-off format, ^[3] Notts County and Chesterfield both qualified directly for the semi-final stage as the second and third-place teams. Notts County played sixth-place Boreham Wood at Meadow Lane, Nottingham, after the latter had defeated Barnet 2–1 in the quarter finals. ^[4] Boreham Wood took the lead in the 37th minute, with Femi Ilesanmi scoring from close range. Lee Ndlouv made it 2–0 shortly before half time, when he caught Notts in possession and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Sam Slocombe. Aden Baldwin pulled a goal back early in the second half, but Notts then missed a chance to draw level when Rúben Rodrigues had his penalty saved by Boreham Wood's goalkeeper Joe McDonnell. In the sixth minute of injury time, Baldwin headed a second goal, and normal time finished 2–2. The scores remained level until the 120th minute, when Jodi Jones’ attempt from the edge of the penalty area found its way past McDonnell, and Notts County won 3–2. ^{[5] [6]} Reflecting on his winning goal, Jones said: “I was just so excited I didn't know what to do. I saw all the bench coming towards me, the gaffer trying to chase me but he couldn't keep up.” ^[7]

In the other semi-final, Chesterfield played Bromley at the Technique Stadium, Chesterfield, following Bromley's 2–1 quarter final win over Woking. ^[8] The first half was held up following a medical emergency in the crowd, and Bromley took a 1–0 lead in the eighth of eleven subsequent minutes of stoppage time. The Spireites equalised in the 57th minute, when Bromley's Deji Elerewe turned the ball into his own net. Elerewe was sent off in the 75th minute, and Darren Oldaker put Chesterfield 2–1 through a deflected free kick shortly afterwards. The second half saw another lengthy stoppage, this time as a result of a drone flying above the stadium, and the subsequent nine minutes of injury time was enough for Michael Cheek to make it 2–2. Thirteen minutes in extra time, with ten-man Bromley visibly tiring, Liam Mandeville drove home a winning goal, and the Spireites won 3–2. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Quarter-finals

Barnet v Boreham Wood

2 May 2023	Barnet	1–2	Boreham Wood	The Hive, Canons Park
19:45	Pritchard 52'	Report	Ndlovu 19', 45'	Attendance: 3,733 Referee: Daniel Middleton

Woking v Bromley

3 May 2023	Woking	1–2	Bromley	Kingfield, Woking
19:45	Ince 13'	Report	Cheek 60 ' (pen) Elerewe 77'	Attendance: 5,033 Referee: Lewis Smith

Semi-finals

Notts County v Boreham Wood

7 May 2023	Notts County	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Boreham Wood	Meadow Lane, Nottingham
12:30	Baldwin 47', 90+6' Jones 120'	Report	Ilesanmi 37' Ndlovu 45+2'	Attendance: 15,617 Referee: Scott Tallis

Chesterfield v Bromley

7 May 2023	Chesterfield	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Bromley	Technique Stadium, Chesterfield
15:30	Elerewe 57 ' (og) Oldaker 79' Mandeville 102'	Report	Marriott 45+8' Cheek 90+9'	Attendance: 9,657 Referee: Scott Simpson

Match

Background

Notts County, managed by Luke Williams, were involved in a high-profile championship race with Wrexham for most of the regular season. ^[12] Ahead of their game on 10 April 2023 at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, both had accumulated 100 points and were 25 points clear of third place. ^[13] Characterised as the biggest match in National League history, ^{[14] [15]} Wrexham won 3–2, with their goalkeeper Ben Foster saving an injury time penalty from Cedwyn Scott to secure the win. ^[16] They won the title twelve days later. ^[17] Notts County had previously played in one National League play-off final, losing 3–1 to Harrogate Town in 2020. ^[18] The Magpies were aiming to return to the English Football League for the first time since their relegation in 2019. ^[19] Notts had qualified for the play-offs in all three of their previous National League seasons: in addition to their final defeat in 2020, they had lost 4–2 in extra time to Torquay United in the 2021 semi-final, ^[20] and 2–1 in extra time to Grimsby Town in the 2022 quarter final. ^[21]

Notts County players applaud their supporters following their win at Chesterfield in February 2023.

Chesterfield, managed by Paul Cook, were the only team other than Wrexham and Notts County to top the National League table during the season, doing so in the opening weeks. ^[22] At one point, the Spireites had experienced a nine match winless run, ^[23] but they secured third place on the final day of the season following a 4–0 win over Maidstone United. ^[24] Relegated to the National League in 2018, ^[25] Chesterfield had made two previous appearances in the National League play-offs. In 2021, they were beaten 3–2 by Notts County in the play-off quarter finals. ^[26] The following year, they were beaten 3–1 by Solihull Moors in the semi-finals. ^[27]

Chesterfield and Notts County had played twice during the 2022–23 regular season. In the first game, played at Meadow Lane on 20 August 2022, the Spireites led 2–0 through goals from Liam Mandeville and Akwasi Asante, but Macaulay Langstaff scored two goals in three minutes to draw the Magpies level, and the match finished 2–2. ^[28] Langstaff scored again when the two clubs met at the Technique Stadium on 11 February 2023, putting Notts County 1–0 up. Armando Dobra equalised for Chesterfield shortly before half time, but the Spireites were reduced to ten men in the second half when Jeff King was issued a second yellow card. Notts County took advantage of their extra man, and Adam Chicksen’s 71st-minute goal secured the Magpies a 2–1 win. ^[29]

Luke Williams picked the same eleven players in his starting eleven as in the semi-final. ^[30] There had been worries about the fitness of Chesterfield players Ryan Colclough and Jamie Grimes, ^[31] but Paul Cook ultimately also named an unchanged team. ^[32] Matthew Corlett was appointed referee for the match. Incidentally, Corlett has also been in charge of the teams’ league match in February. ^[33]

Summary

John Bostock, pictured here in 2016, scored Notts County's first equaliser. He also missed his penalty kick in the shootout attempting a Panenka.

Chesterfield kicked the match off at around 3.30pm on 13 May 2023. With less than two minutes played, Notts County goalkeeper Sam Slocombe gave away an indirect free kick in his own penalty area for taking two touches of the ball following a goal kick. ^[34] Slocombe blocked Jeff King's subsequent attempt on goal, but the Notts goalkeeper gave away a penalty shortly afterwards for a foul on Andrew Dallas. Dallas scored to put the Spireites 1–0 up in the fifth minute. ^[22] Chesterfield broke Notts County's high line a number of times during the first half but could not add to their lead, and it remained 1–0 at half time. ^[35]

Early in the second half, Notts County's Sam Austin saw a chance from the edge of the area go well over the bar, ^[34] while Connell Rawlinson also missed a chance to equalise when his header went narrowly wide. ^[22] Liam Mandeville had a late opportunity to put Chesterfield 2–0 up but was unable to capitalise on a poor clearance from Slocombe. ^[36] The match remained 1–0 until the 87th minute. Awarded a free kick, Notts County's John Bostock caught Chesterfield's goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons out of position and equalised for the Magpies at the near post. ^[22] In post-match interviews, it was revealed that Notts County's goalkeeping coach had noticed Fitzsimons’ tendency to leave gaps when defending free kicks and impressed this upon the players. ^[37]

With no further scoring in normal time, the game went to extra time. Chesterfield regained the lead early in extra time through Armando Dobra, who had time and space to place a shot past Slocombe. ^[34] Macaulay Langstaff and Rawlinson both had chances to equalise again for the Magpies, but the score remained 2–1 to the Spireites at the end of the first half of extra time. ^[22] Early in the second half, Notts County made it 2–2, with Rúben Rodrigues finding the back of the net with a bouncing volley. ^[36] There was no further scoring in extra time, though Notts County did make an important substitution in preparation for the penalty shootout. Luke Williams opted to take off Sam Slomcombe, who had never saved a penalty since joining Notts County, and replace him with on-loan Norwich City goalkeeper Archie Mair, who had saved a spot kick against Altrincham earlier in the season. ^[38]

Ollie Banks scored the opening penalty for Chesterfield, and Macaulay Langstaff responded for Notts County. Archie Mair then saved Chesterfield's second attempt from Darren Oldaker, before Rúben Rodrigues put Notts County 2–1 up. Laurence Maguire and Jodi Jones both scored with their teams’ third attempts, before Mair made a full-length save to deny Jeff King with Chesterfield's fourth attempt. John Bostock then had the opportunity to win the game for Notts County, but his attempted panenka hit the crossbar and Joe Quigley scored Chesterfield's fifth and final attempt. It was left to Notts County's Cedwyn Scott, who had seen his penalty saved at Wrexham weeks earlier, to score the promotion-winning penalty kick for the Magpies. ^{[34] [22] [36] [39]}

Details

13 May 2023 (2023-05-13)

15:30 BST

Notts County	2–2 (a.e.t.)	Chesterfield
Bostock 87' Rodrigues 108'	Report	Dallas 5' (pen.) Dobra 93'
Penalties
Langstaff Rodrigues Jones Bostock Scott	4–3	Banks Oldaker Maguire King Quigley

Wembley Stadium , London

Attendance: 38,138

Referee: Matthew Corlett

Notts County

Chesterfield F.C.

GK 1 Sam Slocombe  119' DF 4 Kyle Cameron DF 5 Connell Rawlinson DF 15 Aden Baldwin  118' DF 23 Adam Chicksen  55' MF 8 Sam Austin  66' MF 11 Aaron Nemane MF 18 Matt Palmer MF 24 John Bostock FW 9 Macaulay Langstaff FW 20 Rúben Rodrigues Substitutes: GK 13 Archie Mair  119' DF 2 Richard Brindley  118' MF 6 Jim O'Brien MF 10 Jodi Jones  55' FW 19 Cedwyn Scott  66' Manager: Luke Williams

GK 1 Ross Fitzsimons DF 5 Jamie Grimes DF 20 Jeff King DF 21 Ash Palmer DF 33 Bailey Clements MF 7 Liam Mandeville  89' MF 10 Ryan Colclough  70' MF 17 Armando Dobra  105' MF 26 Darren Oldaker MF 35 Mike Jones FW 29 Andrew Dallas  78' Substitutes: DF 6 Laurence Maguire  105' MF 4 Tim Akinola  89' FW 15 Paul McCallum MF 28 Ollie Banks  70' FW 27 Joe Quigley  78' Manager: Paul Cook

Post match

With the win, Notts County returned to the English Football League, of which they had been a founding member in 1888. "In context it's enormous, it's a massive moment in the history of the club," manager Luke Williams said of their promotion, "We have shut the door on the worst times the club has experienced since its beginning." ^[40] Williams paid tribute to his players, saying "I've learned that when these guys look like they are done, they are not – they have another roll of the dice." ^[41]

Notts County's promotion was their first since securing the 2009–10 Football League Two championship. ^[42] Nottingham City Council attracted criticism when it declined to stage a celebratory event for the Magpies in the city's Old Market Square citing pressure on its finances. ^[43] The Council reversed its decision the following day, saying it was in talks with the club about staging an event before the start of the following season, ^[44] although Notts ultimately declined the invitation. ^[45] Council leader David Mellen apologised, saying the initial decision had “not been the council's finest hour.” ^[46]

Chesterfield's defeat meant they would spend a sixth consecutive season in the National League. ^[22] Manager Paul Cook said that he had “no regrets about the game, our lads gave everything they have got.” ^[47] Cook also voiced his support for increasing the number of promotion and relegation places between the National League and EFL League Two, saying it was a “sporting disgrace” that only two promotion places (one automatic) were available and that Notts County, who had finished the season with 107 points, had set a record for most points while not gone up automatically. ^[48]

References

1. "Weather History for London, United Kingdom". wunderground.com.
2. "National League – 2022–23 table". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
3. "National League clubs vote in favour of six-team play-offs at AGM". BBC Sport. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
4. "Barnet 1–2 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
5. Andrew Aloia (7 May 2023). "Notts County 3–2 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
6. "Jodi Jones grabs extra-time winner as Notts County reach play-off final". The Independent. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
7. Ben Fisher (12 May 2023). "Notts County's Jodi Jones: 'I've watched my winning goal more than 50 times'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
8. "Woking 1–2 Bromley". BBC Sport. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
9. Liam Northcliffe (7 May 2023). "Chesterfield book Wembley play-off final date against Notts County after extra-time thriller against 10-man Bromley". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
10. "Chesterfield 3–2 Bromley". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
11. "Chesterfield beat 10-man Bromley to set up play-off final date with Notts County". The Independent. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
12. Rory Smith (8 April 2023). "The Team Trying to Change the Ending of 'Welcome to Wrexham'". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
13. "Notts County 3–0 Wealdstone". BBC Sport. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
14. David Richardson (10 April 2023). "Wrexham vs Notts County: The biggest game in National League history with both sides on 100 points". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
15. Gregor Robertson (10 April 2023). "Wrexham v Notts County: The biggest non-League game ever?". The Times. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
16. "Wrexham 3–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
17. Aled Williams (22 April 2023). "Wrexham 3–1 Boreham Wood". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
18. Jay Freeman (2 August 2020). "Harrogate Town 3–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
19. "Swindon Town 3–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
20. James Law (12 June 2021). "Torquay United 4–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
21. "Notts County 1–2 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
22. Andrew Aloia (13 May 2023). "Chesterfield 2–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
23. Tom Hardwick (28 February 2023). "Match recap: Chesterfield's winless run stretches to nine games after 2-1 loss to Wrexham". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
24. "Chesterfield 4–0 Maidstone United". BBC Sport. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
25. "Chesterfield relegated from League Two after Morecambe draw". BBC Sport. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
26. "Notts County 3–2 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
27. George O’Neill (9 May 2022). "Solihull Moors 3–1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
28. "Notts County 2–2 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 20 August 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
29. "Chesterfield 1–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
30. Oliver King (13 May 2023). "Notts County team news vs Chesterfield confirmed as side named for Wembley play-off final". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
31. Liam Norcliffe (11 May 2023). "Key Chesterfield pair declared fit for Notts County play-off final". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
32. Luke De Costa (13 May 2023). "National League promotion final: Notts County beat Chesterfield in thrilling shootout to return to EFL". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
33. Liam Norcliffe (10 May 2023). "Referee and match officials confirmed for Chesterfield-Notts County National League play-off final". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
34. Oliver King (13 May 2023). "Notts County player ratings vs Chesterfield as Magpies return to Football League after penalties drama". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
35. Liam Norcliffe (13 May 2023). "Chesterfield suffer agonising play-off final defeat to Notts County on penalties – report". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
36. Ed Aarons (13 May 2023). "Notts County beat Chesterfield in playoff to return to Football League". The Observer. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
37. Liam Norcliffe (14 May 2023). "Notts County boss praises 'hero' goalkeeping coach in penalty shootout win against Chesterfield". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
38. Oliver King (13 May 2023). "Luke Williams explains Archie Mair decision as Notts County character hailed". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
39. "Notts County back in EFL with sub goalkeeper Archie Mair the shoot-out hero". The Independent. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
40. Andrew Aloia (15 May 2023). "Notts County: How promotion to the EFL returns a 'badge of honour' to Magpies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
41. Andrew Aloia (13 May 2023). "Notts County boss Luke Williams 'can't comprehend' National League promotion final win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
42. "Darlington 0 - 5 Notts County". BBC Sport. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
43. Amy Phipps & Greig Watson (16 May 2023). "Notts County: Cost stops promotion celebration". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
44. Hugh Casswell and Dan Martin (17 May 2023). "Council U-turn on Notts County promotion celebration". BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
45. Amy Phipps (21 June 2023). "Notts County: Belated celebration event 'not feasible'". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
46. "Notts County: Council apology over promotion celebration row". BBC News. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
47. Liam Norcliffe (13 May 2023). "Chesterfield have 'no regrets' after heartbreaking play-off final defeat to Notts County". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
48. Liam Norcliffe (18 May 2023). "'Sporting disgrace' - Chesterfield manager Paul Cook calls for more promotion places in National League". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 11 June 2023.