May 18, 2018 at 7.45pm UK at ​Meadow Lane
Attendance: 17,615
Notts County
1-4
CoventryCoventry City
Grant (45')
Tootle (18'), Alessandra (31'), Brisley (45')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Biamou (6', 71'), McNulty (38'), Bayliss (86')
Doyle (24'), McNulty (51')

Result: Coventry City brush aside Notts County to reach League Two playoff final

Maxime Biamou scores twice as Coventry City beat Notts County 4-1 at Meadow Lane for a 5-2 aggregate victory in their League Two playoff semi-final tie.

Coventry City remain on course for a rare promotion, having overcome Notts County 4-1 in the second leg of their League Two playoff semi-final this evening.

The Sky Blues, who headed into the match level at 1-1 from last week's opening tussle, scored twice either side of half time at Meadow Lane to get the job done.

A first home defeat in 10 matches for County brings the curtain down on their season, while Coventry will now go on to face Exeter City - winners against Lincoln City in the other semi-final - at Wembley on May 28.

Marc McNulty's controversial late penalty at the Ricoh Arena six days ago gave the visitors something to build on, and they were soon ahead in the tie for the first time six minutes into the return fixture.

County failed to deal with the first ball and Maxime Biamou impressively steered it into the bottom corner from eight yards out, rewarding his side for their fast start.

Coventry had not lost a match in the league all campaign after edging in front, but they were almost pegged back as Jon Stead skied a first-time volley over the crossbar.

The visitors were themselves looking threatening, though, and McNulty wasted a couple of chances to move his side further in front before the interval, hooking one shot over the bar and driving a low effort on target for Adam Collin to deal with.

Star man McNulty got his goal 38 minutes in, however, as he found some space 12 yards out and converted Liam Kelly's clever pass.

The Magpies were living off scraps as half time approached, but from nowhere a long throw was flicked on and Jorge Grant thumped it home to keep the tie alive.

Things threatened to boil over late in the first half, with the referee deciding to caution a player on either side, and neither were willing to give anything away when play resumed.

Shaun Brisley sent a looped header just wide and Lee Burge was called into action to keep out Grant's latest attempt as Coventry were pushed back.

The chances kept coming, as Michael Doyle came close from a free kick and Stead became the latest to test Burge at the other end.

Coventry then edged themselves closer to Wembley in a frantic five-minute spell as, after Jonathan Forte had what appeared to be a legitimate goal ruled out for offside, Biamou converted on the counter.

County had further reason to be annoyed as the linesman missed a couple of offside infringements in the build-up and, following a couple of near misses, it was game over thanks to Tom Bayliss's 20-yard drive that deflected into the back of the net.

NOTTS COUNTY (4-4-2): Collin; Tootle, Duffy, Brisley, Jones; Alessandra (Ameobi 78'), Hewitt, Noble, Grant; Forte, Stead

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2): Burge; Grimmer, Willis, Hyam, Stokes; Bayliss, Doyle, Kelly, Shipley; McNulty (Ponticelli 90'), Biamou (Clarke-Harris 73')

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CAccrington StanleyAccrington462961176463093
4Exeter CityExeter462481464541080
5Notts County4721151172492378
6Coventry CityCoventry4722101565481776
7Lincoln City4620151164481675
8Mansfield TownMansfield4618181067521572
9Swindon TownSwindon46208186765268
10Carlisle UnitedCarlisle461716136254867
11Newport CountyNewport461616145658-264
12Cambridge UnitedCambridge461713165660-464
13Colchester UnitedColchester461614165352162
14Crawley TownCrawley461611195866-859
15Crewe AlexandraCrewe46175246275-1356
16Stevenage461413196065-555
17Cheltenham TownCheltenham461312216773-651
18Grimsby Town461312214266-2451
19Yeovil TownYeovil461212225975-1648
20Port Vale461114214967-1847
21Forest Green RoversForest Green46138255477-2347
22Morecambe46919184156-1546
RBarnet461210244665-1946
RChesterfield46108284783-3638

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