Stockport 2 – 1 Salford Metropolis

Stockport booked their place within the Sky Wager League Two play-off remaining as they secured a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Salford after a dramatic tie.

Salford introduced a slender 1-0 lead in from the primary leg final weekend, however Isaac Olaofe’s aim for Stockport despatched the sport into extra-time.

Substitute Stevie Mallan then restored Salford’s lead, however Jack Stretton netted 5 minutes from the top of the second interval to make it 2-1 to Stockport on the day and 2-2 on combination.

From there, Stockport scored three of their 4 penalties, with Antoni Sarcevic netting the decisive effort, steering them to Wembley as Salford missed three of their makes an attempt.

They may face Carlisle or Bradford on Sunday Could 28, whereas Salford will stay in League Two for the 2023/24 marketing campaign.

Stockport hit again to achieve Wembley

Stockport boss Dave Challinor introduced Paddy Madden and Joe Lewis again into his beginning line-up as he made adjustments from the primary leg, and it was Madden who went closest to levelling the tie within the first half.

It was the final minute of stoppage-time when he met a nook together with his head and it struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down onto the road earlier than Salford managed to clear. It could properly have crossed, however with no goal-line expertise at this stage there was no manner for the officers to know.

One other wonderful probability got here and went on 64 minutes as Kyle Knoyle crossed for Olaofe however he may solely head straight at Alex Cairns from six yards. Mere minutes later, nonetheless, Olaofe did discover the aim to stage the tie and ship the sport to extra-time. It was a far harder probability, however this time he discovered the again of the web with a glancing effort from Ryan Rydel’s cross.

Salford once more regarded on the point of Wembley after 112 minutes when Mallan noticed his 25-yard effort deflect previous the helpless Ben Hinchcliffe, however a couple of minutes later Stockport levelled the tie once more, as a trio of substitutes in Myles Hippolyte, Sarcevic and Stretton mixed for the latter to move in.

That took the sport to penalties, the place Salford missed three out of their 4 efforts, which means Stockport will take their place within the remaining and the dream of back-to-back promotions continues to be alive.

What’s subsequent?

Whereas Salford will stay in Sky Wager League One for the 2023/24 marketing campaign, Stockport will play Carlisle or Bradford within the play-off remaining at Wembley Stadium at 1.30pm on Sunday Could 28 for a spot in Sky Wager League One.