Notts County beat Chesterfield in playoff to return to Football League

What an emotional rollercoaster for Notts County’s long-suffering supporters. But after twice seeing their side battle back from the jaws of defeat thanks to equalisers from John Bostock and Ruben Rodrigues that both required a large slice of fortune, it was all worthwhile as Luke Williams’s side returned to the Football League after four years away thanks to the heroics of substitute goalkeeper Archie Mair.

The giant 22-year-old was brought on with seconds of extra-time remaining and produced two brilliant saves in the penalty shootout to deny Darren Oldaker and Jeff King, with even a fluffed Panenka from Bostock not denying them. It was devastating for Chesterfield, who may have finished a whopping 23 points behind their opponents during the league season but were minutes away from claiming victory themselves on two occasions.

Only 26 miles separate these two clubs, who had both spent the vast majority of their existences in the Football League until falling through the trapdoor in the space of 12 months of one another. But while Notts have reached the playoffs in each of their four seasons as a non-league club, Chesterfield came close to dropping into the sixth tier back in 2020 having been relegated two years previously before recovering to qualify for the playoffs in the last three seasons.

Their impressive season under Paul Cook – the former Portsmouth and Wigan manager who returned for his second spell at the helm last year – also saw the Spireites reach the third round of the FA Cup and they ended the campaign with five wins from their last six matches, including an extra-time victory over Bromley in the semi-finals.

Notts also required a last-ditch extra-time winner from Jodi Jones against Boreham Wood to reach