Jayden Luker’s 28th-minute strike saw Notts County end Chesterfield’s eight-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory at SMH Group Stadium.
Luker smashed Tom Iorpenda’s low cross into the far-bottom right corner to settle a tightly-fought contest, which left Notts County with the aggregate lead in their Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final tie.
Luker post-match explained to Sky Sports that he knew that Chesterfield’s back post was an area that the Magpies were able to target, so was pleased to maximise their vulnerability in that area and get the win.
“We knew that back post areas, we could get in there, so I’m just happy to make it and score the goal.”
Chesterfield now face an uphill task to overturn their deficit in the return leg at County’s Meadow Lane on Friday 15 May at 8pm.
With a single point having separated both teams at the conclusion of the regular season and Chesterfield having the better head-to-head record, Notts County almost took a fifth-minute lead if Alassana Jatta had met Iorpenda’s low cross into the box which was saved by Ryan Boot.
Chesterfield however broke forward seconds later and Liam Mandeville found himself fouled by Lucas Ness as he burst into the box, yet their in-form top goalscorer – Lee Bonis struck the resulting penalty onto the left post despite County’s James Belshaw having dived the wrong way.
Paul Cook’s Spireites also came into this match on an eight-match unbeaten run but Notts County snatched the opening goal from a 28th-minute move up the right flank, which saw Iorpenda rifle a low cross across goal where Luker was free to smash into the far-right corner.
County proceeded to cling onto their lead at half time as neither team lacked quality to create any notable opportunities that troubled either Boot or Belshaw, which continued early in the second half as Jatta saw a 54th-minute shot blocked after an exchange of passes with Luker.
Chesterfield’s half-time substitute, Janoi Donacien fired a rebound shot wide in the 61st minute, before Belshaw four minutes later punched away Tom Pearce’s free-kick towards County’s bottom-right corner after Nick Tsaroulla fouled Dilan Markanday.
Sammy Braybrooke fired a 72nd-minute shot over the bar as Chesterfield continued to press for an equaliser, but Notts County almost had a chance to double their lead after Iorpenda was fouled, yet referee – Will Finnie dismissed the Magpies’ penalty appeals.
Notts County eventually clung on to take a slender aggregate lead into their home leg at Meadow Lane on Friday evening.
Teams
Chesterfield: Ryan Boot, Sam Curtis (Donacien 46′), Kyle McFadzean, Sil Swinkels, Lewis Gordon (Pearce 62′), Sammy Braybrooke, Ryan Stirk, Dilan Markanday, Liam Mandeville (Naylor 77′), Armando Dobra (Dickson 39′), Lee Bonis (Grigg 77′)
Substitutes: James Berry, Will Dickinson, Janoi Donacien, Will Grigg, Zach Hemming, Tom Naylor, Tom Pearce
Notts County: James Belshaw, Lucas Ness, Rod McDonald, Jacob Bedeau, Nick Tsaroulla, Oliver Norburn, Tom Iorpenda, Jodi Jones (Kouhyar 69′), Jayden Luker (Grant 68′), Scott Robertson, Alassana Jatta (Ndlovu 78′)
Substitutes: Conor Grant, Harry Griffiths, Tyrese Hall, Maziar Kouhyar, Keanan Bennetts, Lee Ndlovu, Matt Palmer
Referee – Will Finnie
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