Opponents: Tranmere Rovers
Location: Meadow Lane
Date: April 28, 1973
Attendance: 23, 513
Notts County had spent 15 years languishing in bottom two divisions of the football league before the 1972/73 season. The 4-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers ended this spell - landing the Magpies a second place finish on the final day of the season, and a return to the second tier of English football. 
County started off tremendously when Les Bradd was fouled on the left wing after just two minutes. Don Masson then stepped up to deliver a superb cross into the path of Jon Nixon, who struck home his 18th goal of the campaign.
Nine minutes later, Notts saw their lead extended after Kevin Randall scored his 9th penalty of the season, and his 22nd overall. The spot-kick came after he had outpaced a Tranmere defender onto a deep long ball, only to be dragged down inside the area.
Notts settled well subsequent to their second goal and continued to push for more with some speedy attacking football. This saw Nixon - hungry for more goals - come close with two threatening headers in a matter of minutes.
However, it was Rovers that hit next, when the visitors' top-scorer, Eddie Loyden grabbed one back in the 24th minute. Prior to this, County had not conceded on home soil since November 24 the previous year.
The goal rattled Notts a little, and the guests pushed on for an equaliser. Fortunately, Jimmy Sirrel's side were able to weather the storm and go in at half-time in front.
HT - Notts County 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
The Magpies re-gained their dominance immediately in the second period, earning themselves four corners in the opening 12 minutes. Masson's deliveries were causing Tranmere's defence plenty of trouble and it was looking increasingly like Notts would go on to extend their lead.
Counter-attacking, the visitors nearly levelled the game, when Loyden skipped past Brian Stubbs down the right-hand side, firing in a low cross. Fortunately, Mathias directed it just wide of Eric McManus's goal.
David Needham did manage to re-gain Notts' two-goal lead, after he latched onto Masson's free-kick with a stunning header that flew powerfully beyond Johnson into the Tranmere goal.
County's attacking flair returned, with promotion seeming increasingly probable, but Rovers were not out of it yet. McManus was forced into a fine save from the guest's danger-man Loyden down to the foot of his post, followed by a rebound that was well blocked by Bill Brindley.
The instrumental Masson nearly put the game to bed when a fluid move, involving himself and the miniscule Willie Carlin led to a fine save from the opposition's 'keeper. The Scotsman drilled the ball finely with his left boot, only for Johnson to somehow flip the ball around the post at full stretch.
It was the 77th minute when the game was finally decided, as Bradd was brought down inside the area to earn a second penalty for his side. Randall stepped up confidently to place the ball inside the right post, making it 4-1.
Jubilation was rife around the stadium, as this was enough to secure the club's rise into the Second Division. Notts finished runners-up to Bolton Wanderers.
FT - Notts County 4-1 Tranmere Rovers
Teams
Notts County: McManus, Brindley, Worthington, Masson, Needham, Stubbs, Nixon, Randall, Bradd, Carlin, Mann. Sub: Carter
Tranmere Rovers: Johnson, Prichard, Flood, Veitch, Yeats, Mathias, Tynan, Fagan, Loyden, Young, Crossley. Sub: Farrimond