Louie Barry curls County in front on night
Kyle Wootton volleys acrobatic second to make it 3-0 on aggregate
Stoppage-time Ben Osborn strike gave Stockport victory in first leg
Hatters seeking fourth promotion in eight seasons
Stevenage were bidding to reach Championship for first time
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Image source, Getty ImagesOne League One play-off finalist sealed but they will have to wait until tomorrow to find out who they will be up against.
Bradford will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Bolton Wanderers but given the Bantams have only lost three times at home this season, they will fancy their chances.
Same place, same time. Join us for more play-off excitement, won't you?
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stevenage
More from Stevenage boss Alex Revell to Sky Sports:
"No one expected us to be here, we've deserved it over the 46 games, and these players do so much for each other.
"They come in and train every day to their maximum, they've achieved and set standards that no one expected, apart from probably us within the group thus far.
"I'm so proud of everything, especially seeing the following that we had today. This club is moving absolutely in the right direction, and we just have to make sure we keep pushing that.
"It's disappointing tonight, and I'm sure that'll hurt for a few days, but when we come out of that, I'm sure that we'll all see what an incredible year it's been."
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stevenage
Image source, ShutterstockStevenage boss Alex Revell speaking to Sky Sports:
"I'm gutted for the group. and everybody that travelled tonight
"I think in that first half we allowed them to play their game at home, and the atmosphere grew, and we conceded two poor goals from our point of view.
"But in the second half, I saw a team that showed our standards and our levels, and what we expect from this football team, and they've done so well this year.
"We're extremely proud of what we've achieved. Obviously, everyone is gutted because you know how close you are to Wembley but Stockport were here this time last year, and we have to use that now for the next season to make sure that this time, next year, it's us that's going up."
Stockport v Stevenage (agg 1-0, 20:00 BST)
Stockport County is the third team to book a spot under Wembley lights this week but who will their opponents be?
Here are the upcoming second-leg fixtures and the dates for the finals:
Championship
League One
League Two
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stockport County
Image source, ShutterstockMore from Stockport boss Dave Challinor to Sky Sports:
"They're a good group, the big thing for me with them is I'm massively demanding of the players. I'll always be that. But it's from a place of wanting them to do really well, and not wanting them to just be happy in League One.
"The opportunities now in the modern game are massive. But in order to do that, you've got to be bang at it in my eyes every single day. If you do that you'll get the rewards. So, they've earned themselves an opportunity in lots of adversity with the injuries that we've had.
"We know that we'll face a good team that we're playing against. I'll enjoy watching Bradford and Bolton tomorrow, and see who we play at Wembley."
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Image source, ShutterstockStockport boss Dave Challinor speaking to Sky Sports:
When asked about using last season's play-off disappointment as fuel for this season:
"It's helped all year, and there's been plenty of adversity alongside that.
"It certainly hurt me. I've been involved in lots and lots of playoff games. I've been through the mill in terms of winning and losing.
"I think the big thing when we came back from the pre-season was the players. That was a real tough one to take, because probably going to the play-offs last year, we were in a better place than we are than we are this year. We played well in the two play-off games and things conspired against us.
"So to react in the manner that we did, lots of up and downs this season, but to get to this situation and put ourselves into a final is a massive effort and massive congratulations to the boys."
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
There's no question about tonight's winners but plenty around Kyle Wootton's goal.
Was his acrobatic volley going in? Or should Boro captain Carl Piergianni be blushing with an unwanted own goal to his name?
Thumbs up if you think the credit belongs to Wootton, thumbs down if you think it's Piergianni's error to claim.
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stockport County
Stockport County midfielder Ollie Norwood speaking to Sky Sports:
"These play-off games are always edgy.
"I don't think you can ever relax. One goal changes the atmosphere, it changes everything.
"I'm 35 now but I'm still managing to keep up with them [the younger lads].
"I'm just so proud of everyone. The rise of the club, to be part of that journey, I'm just so proud.
"I'm the older player in the team so there's a lot of responsibility. I've loved every minute since I signed.
"There's a lot to be said about having the older players in the group. You rely heavily on experience and that just comes with playing a lot of games."
Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stockport County
Image source, Getty ImagesStockport County winger Louie Barry speaking to Sky Sports:
"The two quick goals early on put us on the front foot.
"Credit to him [Kyle Wootton] because he's had to sacrifice himself at the back and he got the goal.
"We will enjoy it. It's a massive thing to get to Wembley again. We will enjoy it now but next week we will get our heads towards it.
"Whoever it is, I feel like we've got the confidence to put a performance together and win."
On his goal in the first half: "It felt unbelievable. Something I've never felt before. I've scored important goals in the league but never scored in play-offs before, it means a lot to me.
"The referee has done really well because he played the advantage. I saw he has the whistle in his mouth.
"When you get that first goal, everyone takes a deep breath, especially the crowd."
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stockport County
Stockport boss Dave Challinor speaking to Sky Sports:
"It was an amazing night and now we have a one off game at Wembley to get to the Championship.
"The late goal on Saturday certainly made a difference, we needed to start well and those two early goals gave us something to hold on to.
"The players were fantastic in an emotional environment. We've been thinking about last season's disappointment for the whole season and using that as inspiration."
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Wembley again ole ole - third time lucky boys and if there's a better player in the lower leagues then Oli Norwood name him?
Mark, Stockport
Image source, PA MediaStockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Liam Hogan
Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester
County had their Wembley visit earlier in the season in the EFL Trophy, they've been there before and they'll come up against a very good opponent in the final.
They should feel buoyed by the position that they have left this fixture in.
They can celebrate their last game at Edgeley Park for the season tonight - there's been challenges, injuries and adversity this season but they have a chance now to have their day at Wembley.
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Brilliant County! Well deserved victory over both legs. Let's get back into the Championship where we belong.
Mike, Glossop
People were writing Stockport off in the first leg. Never write off Stockport.
Geoff, Huddersfield
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (3-0 agg)
Check out this for an effort.
Ollie Norwood has put in a proper shift for Stockport this evening all over the pitch.
At 35, he'll have been one of the oldest players on the pitch but it didn't show.
Image source, OptaFT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Dean Thompson
BBC Three Counties Radio
No one thought Stevenage would be here at the start of the season, I think the fans appreciate that they didn't roll over to have their tummies tickled tonight. The fans know that Stevenage are punching above their weight and they appreciate that.
It's up to Alex Revell to lift them again for next season.
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Geoff Doyle
Commentator on BBC Three Counties Radio
That's spoilt what was a great performance for Stockport, there's a flare being lit. It's a shame.
It also means the Stevenage players can't come and thank their fans for their support.
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Currently watching County in the Dominican Republic - winning makes the drinks taste better.
Dan, Dominican Republic
FT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Image source, ShutterstockStockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Stevenage put up a better fight in the second half but not well enough to prevent Stockport from booking a date at Wembley.
Boro had their chances but nothing got past Stockport stopper Corey Addai and their excellent season ends here.
Stockport, meanwhile, celebrate with the hoards of fans on the pitch as they gaze at the opportunity for a return to the Championship for the first time in over two decades.
Image source, ShutterstockFT: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (agg 3-0)
Geoff Doyle
Commentator on BBC Three Counties Radio
The stewards are on the pitch already, if you look behind the goal away to our right. The supporters are all around the goal, right on the line.If Stockport try and attack that goal, they won't be able to get a corner or anything! It'l bounce back like a 6 a side goal.
Stockport County missed out on last year's League One play-off final having lost to Leyton Orient on penalties
Stockport County earned their place in next week's League One play-off final at Wembley with a comfortable 2-0 second-leg win against Stevenage at Edgeley Park.
Already leading 1-0 from the first leg, Louie Barry sent the hosts in front after just 14 minutes with a tremendous solo finish but Kyle Wootton outdid him with a sensational close-range volley before the half-hour mark.
Stevenage fought back after the break and they were almost rewarded when Charlie Goode tried his luck with a low effort, but Stockport keeper Corey Addai pulled off a fantastic save to deny him.
Addai then saved from Matt Phillips' low drive but the visitors could not muster a comeback.
The 3-0 aggregate victory for the Hatters, who were knocked out by Leyton Orient on penalties at this stage last season, means they reach the third tier play-off final for the third time.
They will take on the winner of Thursday's second leg between Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers for the chance of returning to the second tier for the first time in 24 years. The final is on Sunday, 24 May.
Louie Barry - Barcelona to Wembley via nine loans
Whereas Saturday's first leg was a cagey affair, this was anything but, as an assured and unchanged Stockport side controlled the return leg from the outset.
Barry, in his third loan spell for the Hatters from Aston Villa, was the difference as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Having leapt out of the blocks, Barry almost sent Stockport ahead inside the opening five minutes when Stevenage failed to pick him up following a corner.
His effort was well blocked by Dan Phillips, but he made the difference soon after when he ran into the box, turned on to his right foot and coolly finished past Stevenage keeper Filip Marschall.
If Barry's finish was good, then Wootton's was even better.
Odin Bailey's whipped-in cross was well met by Wootton, who turned and volleyed the ball towards the top corner, with his effort deflecting off the head of Carl Piergianni.
Stevenage showed more fight after the break and could have laid the groundwork for a comeback had Goode's effort not been denied by the reflexes of Addai.
Stockport's victory means that boss Dave Challinor has the chance to continue his outstanding managerial run.
In 16 seasons, he has only finished outside the play-off positions once.
That came when he took over at Hartlepool United during the 2019-20 season, as they finished 12th in a National League campaign curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has won seven promotions, including one at Colwyn Bay in his first campaign in charge, three with AFC Fylde, one with Hartlepool and two with Stockport.
He has also won four league titles.
Stockport finished third in League One for the second season in a row, but last term their campaign ended in the second leg of their play-off semi-final with defeat by Orient at Edgeley Park.
Twelve months on and their season continues with the chance of another promotion to be added to Challinor's CV.
Revell: 'It brings to an end an incredible season'
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Manager:Dave Challinor
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Manager:Alex Revell
Formation:4 - 1 - 4 - 1
Manager:Dave Challinor
Formation:4 - 3 - 3
Manager:Alex Revell
Formation:4 - 1 - 4 - 1
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After their 1-0 win in the first leg, Stockport County could win successive Football League games against Stevenage (including play-offs) for the very first time. Indeed, the Hatters have never previously won both legs of a two-legged EFL play-off tie.
Stevenage won their league visit to Stockport this season 3-1 in December; as a Football League side, they have never won away to the same side twice in a single campaign in all competitions.
Each of the last nine occasions that the away side has won the first leg of a League One play-off semi-final, that side has gone on to reach the final, with the last to fail to do so being Carlisle against Leeds United in 2007-08 (won first leg 2-1 away, lost second leg 2-0 at home).
Stockport lost two of their final three home games of the regular League One season (W1), as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W8 D2 L2).
Stevenage only won two of their final 13 away games of the regular League One season (D3 L8). Indeed, since Christmas Day, only Rotherham (6) and Northampton (3) earned fewer away points in the division than the Boro (9).
Since losing their first ever Football League play-off home match 0-2 to Chesterfield in 1990, Stockport are unbeaten in their last seven semi-final home legs in the top four tiers (W4 D3).
There were just 14 shots in the first leg of this play-off tie between Stevenage (6) and Stockport (8). It was the fewest shots in any Stockport County match in League One this season, while only one Stevenage game saw fewer (vs Cardiff in December, 13).
Ben Osborn’s winner in the 94th minute for Stockport against Stevenage in the first leg was the first time a team won a League One play-off semi-final first leg via a goal in the 90th-minute or later since Swindon v Sheffield United in 2015.
