The ball runs out of play on the right touchline and Chesterfield's Armando Dobra throws the ball away in frustration.

County want a booking for delaying the restart but the ref opts for leniency.

And now the visitors have a free-kick after a late challenge by Sammy Braybrooke on Jodi Jones.

County cannot make anything of the corner.

Now Chesterfield look to settle back into a spell of possession. The hosts are keeping the ball well and knocking it about nicely.

A real moment of promise for Notts County as Tom Iorpenda drives into the area down the right.

It looks to open up for him for a split second but Sil Swinkels is there to make a block and put it behind for a Magpies corner.

Mark Stallard
Ex-Notts County striker on BBC Radio Nottingham

It's not been a bad start from Notts apart from the penalty which we got away with.

We've looked fairly calm in possession.

Not quite as barmy as the first 15 minutes of the earlier semi-final between Grimsby and Salford but still a good watch so far.

It was already 1-1 in that tie at this point. To be fair, it was 1-1 after four minutes!

This time it is a foul by Chesterfield defender Kyle McFadzean and a blatant one on Jayden Luker as the County man spins him on halfway and McFadzean pulls him down cynically.

Chesterfield perhaps showing why they were unbeaten in their final eight league games - of which they won six - despite that missed penalty.

The hosts have looked very lively in the opening stages.

County are just trying to settle it down as Alassana Jatta chases a long ball forward and goes down in the area after a coming together with Kyle McFadzean. Nothing doing.

Mark Stallard
Ex-Notts County striker on BBC Radio Nottingham

Who said the play-offs were going to be dull and dreary?

Notts manage to scramble the ball away, it's a poor start from us but we got away with that.

We've not even had 10 minutes yet, strap in folks.

Lee Bonis is Chesterfield's top goalscorer in League Two this season with 13.

Oh, how he will think it should be 14 for the campaign.

Big let-off for Notts County.

Image source, PA Media

Lee Bonis steps up for Chesterfield but the spot kick comes straight back out off the base of the post!

James Belshaw had gone the wrong way in the County goal but Bonis cannot convert.

What a moment that could prove to be in this tie.

Great opportunity for Chesterfield to take the lead!

Liam Mandeville weaves his way into the area and he's tripped over by Lucas Ness.

Clear penalty.

Two teams who were also in the play-offs last season. Two teams who also lost at this stage in the 2024-25 campaign.

At least one of them will make it to Wembley this time. For the other, it will be back-to-back agony.

Mark Stallard
Ex-Notts County striker on BBC Radio Nottingham

We're expecting the game to be dictated in the middle of the pitch.

You expect both teams to be a little bit nervy and edgy in the opening stages.

It's a fascinating game and we can I think there will be a lot of twists and turns.

Notts County with the first attack of promise as Jodi Jones shifts it onto his left foot out wide and flashes a ball across the face of goal but Ryan Boot is out of his goal to claim for Chesterfield.

It's a lovely evening for it at the SMH Group Stadium. The sun is still shining brightly.

Gotta love this stage of the season.

Image source, PA Media

We're under way for our second League Two play-off semi-final of the day.

Unbelievable drama at Wembley in the National League play-off final.

Rochdale forced extra-time with a 97th-minute equaliser having trailed 2-0 to Boreham Wood.

Dale have just won 3-1 on penalties and have been promoted to League Two.

You can follow the reaction to that one here.

Image source, Opta

Chesterfield boss Paul Cook sticks with the same line-up that won 2-1 at Swindon Town on the final day of the season.

Martin Paterson makes just the one change for Notts County from their 1-1 home draw with Bristol Rovers.

Scott Roberston comes into the team in place of Conor Grant, who drops to the bench.

Image source, Opta

Notts County

Image source, Shutterstock

Notts County winger Jodi Jones said the Magpies are stacked with players who have "been here before" and are full of "belief and excitement" they can go up.

"Since I've been here, we've had some good games with Chezzy and it does come across like a rivalry and derby," Jones told BBC East Midlands Today.

"We know they are good team and we also know what we are capable of."

Chesterfield are unbeaten against County in the past four league meetings between the two sides and Jones said the tie is a "really good match-up between two really good teams".

He added: "I wouldn't say they are a bogey team. The biggest moment of all against them was the final and we beat them there.

"We are three games away from going to where we believe we should be. We are excited, but we just need to go get the job done."

Notts County

Image source, Shutterstock

Notts County will be hoping this season is not another case of what might have been.

After losing to AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-off semi-final last year, the Magpies finished fifth and just two points shy of automatic promotion this time around.

County boss Martin Paterson is celebrating his 39th birthday today and would love nothing more than for his side to take a lead back to Meadow Lane going into the second leg on Friday.

As the oldest professional club in the country (yes we know about non-pro clubs Sheffield FC and Hallam FC), Notts will feel they belong at least in the third tier.

It is 11 years since they dropped out of League One but after going down to the National League between 2019 and 2023, perhaps the Magpies are now ready to clinch a second promotion in four seasons.