Image source, PA Media

In the absence of a crowd, traffic can be heard passing along the A12, which is right behind the stadium.

The sun is out in Essex and it's a fairly warm evening.

As the referee blows his whistle to start the game, all the players - and the officials - take a knee, showing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

It's a scene we also saw at the start of both of last night's Premier League games.

And now... the game begins.

Standing around the centre circle, the players and officials carry out a minute's applause for the country's key workers in the NHS and to remember those who have died during the pandemic.

Kick-off is up next...

The Exeter players walk out first, on their own, and then the Colchester players follow shortly afterwards, all at a 'social distance'.

As I'm sure you know by now, there are no fans in attendance.

However, cardboard cut-outs of a lot of supporters' faces - from both clubs - are in the stands this evening.

Image source, PA Media

And here's the visiting team that Matt Taylor has named for this first leg:

Exeter XI: Ward, Sweeney, Atangana, A Martin, L Martin, Law, Williams, Bowman, Moxey, Sparkes, Taylor.

Subs: Maxted, Parkes, Jay, Fisher, Richardson, Dickenson, Randall, Collins, Seymour.

Image source, Rex Features

For the third time in the past four seasons, Exeter are involved in the end-of-season promotion shake-up.

Twice they have made it to Wembley in that time - under former boss Paul Tisdale - and twice come away empty-handed.

However, they have the opportunity to make it third time lucky under Matt Taylor, who was promoted twice as a Grecians player.

Taylor has helped continue the progress made by Tisdale in his 12 years at the helm - just missing out on the play-offs last season and comfortably booking their spot this term.

Here's how the hosts are lining up for this first leg, with on-loan Southend striker Theo Robinson only on the bench.

You'll notice that there are nine substitutes named - managers can make five changes during the game.

Colchester XI: Gerken, Jackson, Bramall, Prosser, Senior, Pell, Norris, Eastman, Stevenson, Nouble, Poku.

Subs: Ross, Lapslie, Sowunmi, Cowan-Hall, Welch-Hayes, Robinson, Clampin, Gambin, Chilvers.

Image source, Getty Images

It's scary to think it is 20 years ago that John McGreal was a Wembley play-off final winner under the old twin towers. Perhaps his crowning moment as a player.

The Liverpool-born centre-half, as part of a defensive unit which included Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus, helped Ipswich Town to the top tier with a 4-2 win over Barnsley (sorry Colchester fans, for the Ipswich reference).

Nine years earlier, he was around the squad as a first-year professional as Tranmere won the Third Division play-off against Bolton to win promotion.

As Colchester manager, the play-offs have twice eluded McGreal, both occasions by just the one point. Finally, he has the chance to be involved this time.

Unfortunately rights restrictions mean we cannot bring you live radio commentary of this game online, but you can listen in via BBC Radio Devon or BBC Essex, if you're in either of the relevant areas.

How are you following this game, and who are you backing?

Personally, my 'stay at home' laptop setup is surrounded by cups of tea, post-it notes and rain pouring down outside the window.

I'd love to know how and from where you're keeping up with the action.

As usual with the fourth-tier play-offs, seventh meets fourth while sixth meets fifth. The lower-placed sides host the first legs, which are both tonight.

Here is the full schedule for these play-offs - we'll have live text coverage of them all for you right here on the BBC Sport website and app.

You can also follow coverage of the EFL on your BBC local radio station.

Image source, .

Image source, BBC Sport

This was how the final table was calculated in League Two, with Cheltenham squeezing above Exeter into fourth spot by virtue of a greater points-per-game average.

Both teams secured home advantage for their all-important second legs though, while it still came down to goal difference for both Colchester and Northampton, who could not be split on PPG.

Port Vale and Bradford were left to rue what might have been.

No-one could have envisaged the manner in which League Two's season was curtailed back in March, just as it was heading into the metaphorical home straight.

The coronavirus pandemic brought the campaign to a shuddering halt and eventually the decision to end the season via a points-per-game method was voted for by fourth-tier clubs.

Swindon, Crewe and Plymouth went up automatically. Congratulations to them.

But one other promotion place remains up for grabs.

So here we are: Colchester, Exeter, Northampton and Cheltenham are in the running, and kick-off in our first game at the JobServe Community Stadium is just under half an hour away.

Image source, PA Media

Hello football, my old friend. It's nice to see you again.

After last night's return of the Premier League, this evening we are straight back down to business with more live action, from the League Two play-offs.

We've got four promotion-hungry teams, two first-leg ties and one Wembley final on the line, and of course - ultimately - only one promotion spot.

Here we go...