Stockport County 2-0 Stevenage (Agg 3-0): The Hatters reach League One play-off final

Stockport County completed a 2-0 second-leg semi-final victory over Stevenage at Edgeley Park to secure their place at Wembley in the League One play-off final.

The Hatters are now just 90 minutes away from ending their 24-year absence from the second tier of English football.

Leading 1-0 from Ben Osborn’s first-leg stoppage-time strike, Dave Challinor’s side wrapped up a Wembley date on May 24 with first-half goals from Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton.

They will face either Bradford City or Bolton Wanderers for a place in the Championship, as the other League One play-off semi-final takes place on Thursday night.

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Match action

After his goalscoring heroics in the first leg, Osborn provided a 14th-minute assist for Aston Villa loanee Barry to put County on top with a curling right-footed shot.

Stevenage completed the double over their hosts during the regular season but a bid for a first-ever EFL play-off final appearance soon evaporated.

County, a National League North side just seven years ago, wrapped up the tie after 28 minutes following a good advantage by referee Josh Smith.

Striker-turned-defender Wootton hooked Odin Bailey’s cross goalwards and – helped by a deflection off Stevenage skipper Carl Piergianni – the ball looped beyond goalkeeper Filip Marschall.

When Stevenage created a great 61st-minute chance to get back in the match, Corey Addai saved a point-blank shot from Charlie Goode.

Addai also kept out a Matt Phillips effort but the EFL Trophy runners-up cantered to their second Wembley appearance in a month.

Huge achievement

After the game, a delighted County boss Challinor admitted it would be a “huge achievement” for his side to book a second-tier return for the first time in more than two decades.

“To perform to the level they did, especially in the first half, is a massive credit to the players,” said 50-year-old, who will be at Valley Parade tonight to see Bradford and Bolton battle it out.

“But sometimes you get to these moments and the story doesn’t have a happy ending.

“We have got to make sure it has a happy ending. We have been to Wembley already this season (in the EFL Trophy final against Luton Town) and didn’t come back with a trophy.

“We have got to make sure we come back with a trophy this time to take this club to the second tier and it would be a huge achievement if we get there.”

On the goals, Challinor added: “Louie didn’t have much of an impact on Saturday (in the first leg), but he doesn’t normally go two games without having that impact.

“The second goal was an amazing finish. By no means did we think ‘Wootts’ would side volley it in the top corner from the edge of the box but it was brilliant for him.

“To get his 20th goal of the season, to go back and do an unselfish job for the team at centre-half for the last five of six games, I’m delighted for him.”

Proud

Stevenage manager Alex Revell admitted he was proud of his players, despite their disappointment and vowed to come back stronger.

He said: “It brings to an end an incredible season.

“We won’t feel what the players have achieved now because we are disappointed, but I am proud to manage this group.

“Over the two games we have fallen short but there is no blame on the players for how hard they work for this club.

“We knew we had to get the first goal and we didn’t. In the second half, they dropped to protect the goal but that summed up what our team is about this season.

“They kept going and we had chances which we didn’t take. We are all gutted and it will take a while to get over it.

“There is a lot to take in but we must make sure over the summer we reflect and come back better.”

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