Notts edge first-leg win as Chesterfield rue early pen miss

Notts County have the edge in their League Two play-off semi-final after a 1-0 win in the first leg at Chesterfield.

An early penalty miss from Lee Bonis proved costly for the Spireites, with Jayden Luker striking later in the first half at the SMH Group Stadium to seal a narrow victory.

It leaves County with the advantage heading into their second leg at home on Friday night.

Both League Two semi-final second legs will be live on Sky Sports on Friday night from 7pm. Salford vs Grimsby (7.15pm), Notts County vs Chesterfield (8pm).

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Chesterfield could have gotten off to a dream start when Liam Mandeville was tripped in the box and the referee pointed to the spot, only for Bonis to rattle his effort off the woodwork.

Notts County took advantage just before the half-hour mark, as Tom Iorpenda fed a cross in for Luker to finish at the back post.

And that would prove to be the crucial moment in the first half of this tie.

Chesterfield boss Paul Cook on Sky Sports:

"I'd rather be in the lead! But we're still very much alive in the tie, that's for sure. It's only half-time.

"We're playing against very good opposition so it's going to be tough. We look forward to the next leg on Friday night and it's all to play for.

"I thought the lads stuck to the task really well and played some really good football."

Notts County boss Martin Paterson on Sky Sports:

"Tight, pressurised games like this in the play-offs, it's fantastic football. The atmosphere was fantastic.

"It's quite strange really that it's half-time. That was just the first half, now we go back to Meadow Lane.

"We've got a lot of work in the meantime, looking at video, staying humble and preparing for the threat they carry."

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