NOTTS County careered off the road to Wembley after Preston North End punctured their hopes of a dream day out in the capital.
Paul Huntington's first-half header was enough to seal the Lilywhites an exciting Northern Area final date with Walsall on a disappointing and hugely frustrating night for the Magpies.
In truth there was very little between the two teams at Meadow Lane where a considerable absence of fortune also proved costly especially when Haydn Hollis hit the crossbar.
Shaun Derry's side were cute in possession, but just lacked a cutting edge against a Preston side who made it six games unbeaten.
Indeed, the Notts boss has taken the Johnstone's Paint Trophy very seriously this season which was underlined by his starting line-up.
Bar injury and suspension, it was the strongest side the Notts boss could field as he deployed a 3-5-2 system using Blair Adams and Curtis Thompson as wing-backs.
With no Jake Cassidy because of a knock, Michael Petrasso and Garry Thompson were the front pairing whom the Magpies were relying on to set-up a date with Walsall in the Northern Area final.
Knowing that three, or even potentially two wins could take them to Wembley, the stakes were now incredibly high and former England striker Alan Smith had urged his team-mates not to leave any regrets on the pitch.
By the way Notts started, it looked as though they had taken that advice on board as they started with energy, drive and purpose.
Within the opening two minutes Petrasso had weaved his way into the box in the hope of manufacturing enough space for himself to have a shot at goal.
He did so superbly, but Huntington made a crucial block to deny the Canadian at the expense of a corner which came to nothing.
Derry would have been pleased with the opening his side had made, but Preston, flying high in League One, soon provided a reminder of their threat.
Josh Brownhill, from all of 30 yards, decided to take aim with a shot which packed enough power to trouble Roy Carroll.
The Northern Ireland goalkeeper was then required to thwart the same player again just moments later with a rather unconventional save with his legs.
Notts' early drive was just beginning to wane which had allowed Preston to gain territory and in the 19th minute they took advantage.
A corner was conceded by Adams despite being under minimal pressure and from Kyel Reid's corner Huntington headed in with Carroll protesting to the referee he was impeded.
The goal was a like a punch to the solar plexus for Notts who took a while to regain their composure, but as the half wore on the threat began to return.
Petrasso tried his best with a fierce drive from the edge of the box, which although from an acute angle, worried a stranded Thorsten Stuckmann.
Stephen McLaughlin then sent a half-volley skimming wide of the post, before a remarkable chain of events denied Derry's side an equaliser.
A corner from McLaughlin was headed onto the bar by Hollis with the rebound falling to Taylor McKenzie whose volley was headed off the line by Huntington.
Notts knew it was all or nothing in the second half if they were to keep their Wembley dream alive.
But they were indebted to their goalkeeper Carroll for keeping it intact when he made a brilliant stop at his near post to deny Reid.
The lack of progress, in terms of creating chances, prompted Derry to make a change on the hour mark with Ronan Murray coming on for McKenzie.
It prompted a tactical switch to 4-4-2 and it immediately began to pay dividends as Murray latched onto a header from Garry Thompson, but pulled it wide of the far post.
But in the 64th minute their best chance was to come when McLaughlin raced through to lob Stuckmann only to see his shot drop an inch wide of the post.
The Kop burst into song in a bid to stoke the embers of the Magpies' attack as they realised there was 20 minutes to keep their Wembley dream alive.
Notts were growing increasingly desperate, but a lack of quality in the final third and the ability to cut Preston open was a real problem.
But they kept on plugging away although it was to no real avail.
Preston were able to see out the final stages with ease as they booked a date with Walsall in the Northern Area final as Notts' Wembley dream died at Meadow Lane.
Notts: Carroll, Adams (Hall 75), Smith, Hollis, Thompson, Jones, McKenzie (Murray 61), C Thompson, Edwards, McLaughlin, Petrasso. Subs: Pilkington, Murray, Traore, Harrad, Hall.
Preston: Stuckmann, Laird, Wiseman, Clarke, Beckford (Humphrey 75), Reid, Little, King, Huntington, Brownhill, Brown. Subs: Jones, Gallagher, Woods, Welsh.
Referee: Nigel Miller: Questionable decision to allow Paul Huntington's goal to stand after Roy Carroll seemed to be impeded. Bit of a bizarre performance as he blew for minor indiscretions but some blatant fouls went unpunished.
Magpies man of the match: Gary Jones. The midfielder worked away with usual drive and his passing was absolutely spot on. An inspiration.
