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 Rúben 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 largely due to the heroics of the substitute goalkeeper Archie Mair.
The giant 22-year-old on loan from Norwich was brought on with seconds of extra time remaining for only his fifth appearance for the club and produced two brilliant saves in the penalty shootout to deny Darren Oldaker and Jeff King, with even a fluffed Panenka from Bostock unable to stop the party for the fans in black and white who made up the majority of the 38,000 crowd. It was a devastating way to lose 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.
