Northampton win a corner of their own and Nicky Adams stands over it.

The former Bury man, who won promotion from this division with the Shakers last term, thumps it towards the box but it sails over a crowd of bodies and Cheltenham win a throw-in.

At the other end there's a tame shout for handball from Cheltenham as a long throw-in goes into the box.

Instead of a spot-kick they are awarded a corner which pinballs around the box before Northampton win a free-kick.

An end-to-end and thrilling start all things considered!

Decent stuff from the hosts in these early stages as a long ball goes forward upfield towards Vadaine Oliver before narrowly sailing out of reach.

A further effort from Nicky Adams goes into the stands as Northampton keep the pressure on Cheltenham inside the opening five minutes.

Northampton get this game under way just after both teams take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

We've started at Sixfields.

Image source, Rex Features

Prior to kick-off, the two sets of teams are lined up around the centre circle for a moment's applause in order to pay tribute to NHS and key workers' efforts during the coronavirus lockdown.

And this is the Cheltenham side which lines up to face Northampton this evening...

Cheltenham XI: Evans, Long, Hussey, Tozer, Raglan, Boyle, Thomas, Broom, Doyle-Hayes, Reid, Nichols.

Subs: Lovett, Debayo, Greaves, Ince, Clements, Sheaf, Smith, May. Varney.

Here's how the hosts line up for tonight's League Two play-off semi-final tie.

Once again, you will notice that there are nine substitutes named, with both managers able to make five changes during the game.

Northampton XI: Arnold, McCormack, Goode, Turnbull, Watson, Adams, Wharton, Oliver, Olayinka, Harriman, Morton.

Subs: Cornell, Martin, Lines, Roberts, Pollock, Anderson, Marshall, Smith, Williams.

Here come the players. The visitors Cheltenham are out first and are followed by Northampton.

Let's take a look at tonight's line-ups.

Part of the "new normal" of covering football these days means post-match interviews via video conference.

Among the faces on that screen are BBC Sport reporter Brent Pilnick and Exeter manager Matt Taylor - we'll have reaction from both camps to Colchester's 1-0 win over Exeter to come later.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

After being defeated by newly-promoted Leyton Orient on the opening day of the campaign, Michael Duff's Cheltenham ensured they were a difficult team to beat this term.

Prior to the season being brought to an early end due to the lockdown, the Robins had put together an enviable run of form.

They were defeated just once in their final eight games, winning six and drawing once as they eventually missed out on automatic promotion by 2.76 points.

Can they maintain their fine form when they face Northampton tonight in their first game for almost four months?

Image source, Rex Features

After a start to the season which saw them pick up just a point from their opening three games, something clicked for Keith Curle's side.

A run of eight wins in 10 games in all competitions between October and December sent the Cobblers back on track and bolstered their promotion ambitions.

Curle's side took the final play-off spot prior to the suspension of the season in March, however they lost six out of eight games before the campaign's early end.

Are Northampton on their way to regaining a spot in the third tier after a two-season absence? Nearly three and a half months after they last played, they stand just 180 minutes from a Wembley final.

Image source, Northampton Town

While there won't be any supporters physically in the stands for tonight's game, that doesn't mean there won't be any Cobblers fans on show.

The 'Shoe Army' will be represented by about 930 cardboard cut-outs, ranging from famous faces to devoted fans who have passed away.

The 'Cobblers in the Crowd' scheme allowed fans to pay £25 for a seat.

Many have movingly taken up the chance to allow their loved ones who have passed away to go to 'one last game'.

Unfortunately rights restrictions mean we can't bring you live radio commentary of tonight's second League Two play-off semi-final tie on this page.

However you can listen in on tonight's proceedings on BBC Radio Northampton and BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Tom asked earlier, now I'm asking again. How are you following the football now it's back?

Whereas Tom opted for the post-it note and cups of tea approach to tonight's first tie, I've gone for the organised chaos that is about 100 tabs open in my browser and my iPad propped up by a copy of Frank Herbert's Dune.

Hopefully your setup is a bit less haphazard! Let me know using #bbcefl on social media.

Image source, BBC Sport

Thank you Tom.

I tell you what, I'm absolutely thrilled to be back covering some live sport!

The action is coming up thick and fast. Football fans rejoice. The play-off fun continues in a matter of minutes.

Thanks for your company for that first leg between Colchester and Exeter.

Now it's time for me to hand over to Jay Freeman to take you through Northampton v Cheltenham, which will kick off in just 20 minutes.

Have a good evening!

Image source, PA Media

Colchester United left-back Cohen Bramall told Sky Sports:

"[On his goal] I saw the gap and we've been practising them in training for the past couple of weeks and now it's come off.

"The keeper was leaning more to his right and thought I was going to cross it but it was a big enough gap so I thought I'd try it.

"[On playing without a crowd] It's a lot different. The boys coped well. The fitness levels for us and Exeter are not there but I think we all coped well and it was a strong 90 minutes.

"I don't think we have an advantage. The 1-0 has got us there but Exeter are a solid team and the second leg will be tough. We'll rest and get our minds focused on that."

Please don't go anywhere because Northampton Town v Cheltenham Town is coming up very shortly, after which we'll have seen all four of the sides in this season's League Two play-offs in action.

It's all elbow pumps between the two teams instead of handshakes, and all smiles for the home side.

It wasn't a great game by any means, but it was a terrific free-kick from Cohen Bramall that has given the U's the advantage.

Image source, Getty Images

There's the full-time whistle. Colchester United will take a one-goal lead to Devon for Monday's second leg.