In a goalless first half, Carl Heggs came close to scoring with a volley which Andy Woodman, the Northampton Town goalkeeper, saved.

Late in the second half, Northampton Town were awarded a free kick which John Frain struck against the Swansea wall, but the referee ordered it be re-taken.

[2] After a goalless first half, Northampton Town were reduced to ten players when Mark Cooper was sent off for violent conduct with 20 minutes of the match remaining.

Seven minutes later, Sean Parrish scored with a lob from the edge of the Cardiff City penalty area to give Northampton Town a 1–0 victory.

[4] Ian Sampson put Northampton Town ahead midway through the first half with a header and three minutes later, Cardiff's Jeff Eckhardt was sent off for the use of an elbow.

Simon Haworth scored a late goal for Cardiff but the match ended 3–2 to Northampton Town who progressed to the final with a 4–2 aggregate victory.

[7] In the eighth minute, Swansea's defender Steve Jones broke his right leg and was taken away in an ambulance, shortly before Chester's Chris Priest was dismissed for two yellow cards.

[10] Northampton Town were appearing in the first play-off final in their history, and had also played in the fourth tier since suffering relegation in the 1989–90 season.

[12] In the two matches between the sides during the regular season, Swansea City won both: a 1–0 victory at Vetch Field in November 1996 was followed by a 2–1 win at Sixfields the following February.

[18] In the 25th minute, Jan Mølby conceded possession to Swansea's Grayson who passed to Parrish, but Christian Edwards blocked his shot.

[23] Micky Adams replaced Mølby temporarily and two weeks later Alan Cork was appointed as the full-time manager:[24] he led Swansea to 21st position in the Third Division that season.