Stockport seal Wembley spot with dominant win over Stevenage

3 min read
Stockport seal Wembley spot with dominant win over Stevenage

Stockport seal Wembley spot with dominant win over Stevenage

Stockport County booked their place in the League One play-off final with a composed 2-0 victory over Stevenage at Edgeley Park, sealing a 3-0 aggregate win and moving within one match of the Champion...

Stockport seal Wembley spot with dominant win over Stevenage

Stockport County booked their place in the League One play-off final with a composed 2-0 victory over Stevenage at Edgeley Park, sealing a 3-0 aggregate win and moving within one match of the Champion...

Stockport County are heading to Wembley after a commanding 2-0 victory over Stevenage at Edgeley Park, sealing a 3-0 aggregate win in the League One play-off semi-finals. The Hatters are now just one step away from a return to the Championship—a division they haven't graced since 2002.

Already holding a slender lead from the first leg, thanks to Ben Osborn's late strike, Dave Challinor's men wasted no time asserting their dominance. The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Louie Barry produced a moment of magic, cutting inside from the left flank before curling a sublime finish past goalkeeper Filip Marschall. It was a goal worthy of the big stage, and it set the tone for the afternoon.

Stockport doubled their advantage before the half-hour mark, and it was a goal of pure instinct. Kyle Wootton met Odin Bailey's pinpoint cross with an acrobatic volley that took a slight deflection on its way into the top corner. The Edgeley Park faithful erupted, sensing that their team was on the verge of something special.

Stevenage showed more purpose after the interval, pushing for a lifeline. They came agonizingly close when Charlie Goode's close-range effort was brilliantly denied by Corey Addai, who produced a reflex save that drew gasps from the crowd. The goalkeeper was called into action again moments later, getting down low to keep out Matt Phillips' driven shot. Those saves proved crucial, preserving Stockport's two-goal cushion.

From there, the hosts managed the game with composure and experience, seeing out the closing stages without any major scares. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes, with players and fans alike already dreaming of a day out at Wembley.

Standing between Stockport and promotion are either Bolton Wanderers or Bradford City, with the second semi-final still to be decided. Whoever emerges, the Hatters will head to the capital full of confidence, knowing that 90 minutes of football could deliver a historic return to the second tier. For a club that has climbed from the National League to the brink of the Championship in just a few seasons, this is a moment to savor.

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