Stockport County celebrate Louie Barry's goal against StevenageGetty Images

Stockport County missed out on last year's League One play-off final having lost to Leyton Orient on penalties

Jay Freeman
BBC Sport England

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.

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.

Can Challinor continue his remarkable managerial run?

Dave Challinor's managerial record in a graphicBBC/Shutterstock

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'

Player of the match

L. Barry
8.10
20 L. Barry
8.10
26 O. Norwood
8.00
14 T. Edun
7.95
19 K. Wootton
7.89
28 J. Stokes
7.89
2 J. Dacres-Cogley
7.67
34 C. Addai
7.62
15 E. Pye
7.61
29 A. Sidibeh
7.60
27 O. Bailey
7.39
23 B. Osborn
7.16
9 I. Olaofe
6.40
7 J. Diamond
5.92
22 B. Andrésson
5.92
11 M. Mothersille
5.87
18 L. Fiorini
5.82
Back to team tabs

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

Related topics