The Meadow Lane result was hardly important for the Terriers - the real action was happening at Griffin Park where Reading grabbed a late equaliser against Brentford.

The result meant that the Bees would face the Terriers again for promotion from the division in the Play-off Semi-finals.

The Notts County game itself was played in good spirits, with Lou Macari making several changes to the Terriers, some of which were enforced, others were tactical.

As expected, the Magpies needed to perform against the Terriers and they put Lou Macari's side on the back foot throughout the match with a well motivated performance despite long periods of scrappy play on a bobbly, patchy, and hard Meadow Lane pitch.

Darren Caskey pulled the strings for the home side when he put in a cross which was met by Danny Allsopp for the Magpies' first goal on 14 minutes.

Allsopp's goal was a simply taken header and Notts County deserved their second goal after more inspired play.

Kevin Nicholson drifted his way through the Town ranks without a challenge on the hour and comprehensively beat Martyn Margetson with a sizzler while the Terriers defence looked on.

There was little to celebrate about Town's performance.

Delroy Facey and Kenny Irons both shot wide in the first half and Chris Beech, a late sub, had an effort cleared off the line.

Jerel Ifil had an encouraging start at centre back, alongside Kevin Gray, while Facey eventually won a consolation for the Terriers when he was felled in the Magpies' area with 9 minutes to go.

Kenny Irons tucked away the penalty but the day belonged to the home fans who had unconditionally cheered their team on even after the result became irrelevant when news filtered through that Wrexham had beaten struggling Bournemouth to send them down instead.

Read Mel Booth's match report on Monday. Have your say on this match and the play-off apppointment with Brentford. Please use your full name and location - selected messages will be considered for publication in the Examiner.

MATCH FACTS

Notts County (4-4-2): Garden, Fenton, Cas (Bolland 69), Allsopp, Nicholson, Liburd, Whitley, Heffernan (Stallard 76), Caskey, Ireland, L Richardson
Subs not used: Mildenhall, I Ricardson, Owers
Booked: L Richardson
Scorers: Allsop 14, Nicholson 60

Town (4-4-2): Margetson, G Evans, Irons (Beech 85), Gray, Ifil, Facey, Holland, Delaney (Macari 85), Moses, Booth, Mattis (Hay 69)
Subs not used: P. Evans, Dyson
Booked: Mattis
Scorer: Irons pen 81

Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)

Attendance: 15,618 (Several thousand Town fans)

Match points follow on subsequent pages.

Town will face Brentford in the 2nd Division Play-offs after they grabbed a draw 1-1 against Reading at Griffin Park.

FULL TIME

90 mins: Only 1 minute of extra time was added as Notts County fans celebrated a Wrexham winner against Bournemouth which guaranteed their safety no matter what the score at Meadow Lane.

84 mins: Chris Beech replaced Kenny Irons and Paul Macari replaced Damien Delaney as the game came to an end with Town playing three stikers in a bid to equalise.

82 mins: Facey was roared on as he chased the ball towards the area. Paul Macari and Chris Beech were warming up.

82 mins: Brentford were being held 1-1 at Griffin Park. Brentford were back in the play-offs

81 mins: Kenny Irons stepped up and pulled one back with a ball straight down the middle.

80 mins: Delroy Facey won a penalty after he was shoved over in the penalty area.

74 mins: Just one goal for Cardiff or Brentford stood between a Town/Cardiff playoff semi-final.

73 mins: Ireland conceded a corner which Irons delivered but watched cleared.

71 mins: Cardiff were winning their game but goal difference meant that they stayed in 4th position. Town were looking at a Reading Playoff Semi-Final.

69 mins: Chris Hay replaced Dwayne Mattis as the Terriers laboured against the strong Magpies defence.

68 mins: Town were struggling to keep up with the Magpies.

67 mins: Caskey's rasping effort was wide.

66 mins: Caskey's free kick took a wicked deflection and flew over the bar as Town subs started warming up.

65 mins: Cas forced a super save out of Margetson as tackles flew in from the ragged Terriers.

63 mins: Brentford went 1-0 up against Reading - it was looking as though the Terriers would face Reading in the Playoffs.

60 mins: Margetson was well beaten as he saw Kevin Nicholson's super shot follow a mazy run directly into the heart of Town's defence!

56 mins: Ifil pulled off a superbly timed tackle from behind to deny Heffernan who was clean through.

54 mins: Chris Holland's rasping shot was palmed away by Garden who caught Kenny Irons' subsequent corner.

52 mins: Ireland had to make a smart interception as Facey bore down on goal.

46 mins: Town panicked and Margetson almost conceded a second but collected the ball on his line as Nicky Fenton charged down on goal with a late run after Caskey's cross had put him through with Gray ball-watching.

HALF TIME

Danny Allsop's header and an inspired performance from Notts County saw the Terriers trailing at half time. Makeshift Town were poor on the day and, with Notts County still motivated to win a point as Bournemouth were winning in their match, it was hard to see the Terriers picking up a gear against the relegation haunted Magpies. Jerel Ifil did well at centre back, though, and Delroy Facey and Kenny Irons had chances go wide.

46 mins: Cas came close to a goal during a late Notts County attack.

45 mins: The game picked up as Town tried to find a way past Notts County but they were facing stiff resistance. Facey beat the offside trap but fizzed his shot across the face of goal.

40 mins: Gray cleared from Allsopp but Notts County continued to press despite Town's revival.

38 mins: Irons' corner was met by Kevin Gray but his touch was cleared.

35 mins: The referee waved away claims for a penalty after Richard Liburd fell over in the penalty area after Town were caught ball watching during a Magpies attack.

32 mins: Facey found himself in space on the left and crossed for Kenny Irons who fired wide.

29 mins: Cas went into the back of Gareth Evans and conceded the free kick.

25 mins: The home side were being applauded for every move they made as they pinned the Terriers back. They were working hard to ensure they didn't get relegated. The game was poor so far and was getting worse for the Terriers.

21 mins: Moses made Margetson scramble for a poorly hit backpass as the Magpies pressed and kept the tempo up. Heffernan's cross was met by Gareth Evans who cleared only as far as Marcel Cas. Cas couldn't believe his luck and fired in an effect which was deflected for a corner.

19 mins: Ifil hooked away Cas' cross as the game descended into a scrappy with the state of the pitch not helping Town's passing game.

16 mins: Moses started the counter-attack after the Town offside trap worked.

14 mins: Caskey's cross was cleared by Mattis. Liburd was there but it was Danny Allsop who finished with a neat header past Margetson at the far post. Poor defending allowed Caskey's cross to split the defence completely.

11 mins: Booth was pushed by Jim Whitley as he lined up to shoot from Moses' cross on the counter-attack. No penalty was given.

7 mins: Ifil made a great defensive clearance with hundreds of Town fans applauding him.

4 mins: Delaney's cross was cleared as Town put the pressure on.

2 mins: The home side were on the attack, keen to protect their 2nd Division status but the Terriers were relaxed in the opening moments.

1 min: Adrian Moses was playing at right back with Dwayne Mattis in right midfield ahead of him. Both sides opened on the attack.

Lou Macari rang the changes after suspensions and injuries ruled out Leon Knight, Steve Jenkins and Nathan Clarke. Macari took the opportunity to try out loan players Jerel Ifil and Damien Delaney while Dwayne Mattis returned in midfield alongside Kenny Irons while Chris Beech made a surprise appearance on the bench. John Thorrington and Thomas Heary were rested as Macari looked at the bone hard and patchy Meadow Lane pitch.

The Terriers were enjoying the pre-match atmosphere as almost the entire playing and coaching staff walked around on the Meadow Lane pitch.