Stockport County 2 Stevenage FC 0 ( EFL League 1 Play Off Semi -Final 2nd Leg) Wednesday 13 May 2026

 

 

 

 

 

An impressive performance by Stockport County saw them surge beyond the challenge of visitors Stevenage FC, to claim their place in the EFL League 1 Play Off Final last night at Edgeley Park.

First half goals from Louie Barry and Kyle Wootton, plus another top notch showing by the whole team saw the Hatters home comfortably – Ollie Norwood outstanding once again leading the way with no one in blue not contributing to an impressive night`s work-Kyle Wootton again proving what a colossal sporting hero & giant of a human being he is taking time to add yet another vital goal to his tally for the season- I`ll stop by naming Ethan Pye -ever present every minute of every game this season- what a performer…what a team……..

……last night I saw a team that should be a diffident injury wrecked collection of willing individuals, transformed into  one that plays with such heart…such style such grasp of the skills needed to succeed ,that I find it irresistible to conclude that they will!

………………………………..

 

County put Stevenage under pressure from the off- Sidibeh typical of the team`s ethic- up and at their opponents to a man- the ex-Cheadle Nomads striker winning an early corner for the blues with some brilliantly energetic play. The kick had to be rescued by Osborn who lifted the ball to Barry who was unlucky to see Dan Phillips in the way of his shot on the line!

It went on – Norwood prompting County on…Edun and Dacres- Cogley doing good jobs on the flanks, and then there was Sidibeh whose pace was too much for the visitors who again faced defending a corner…..then another, but it stayed 0-0.

Stevenage were hard pressed to keep County out, and Norwood increased their angst factor exponentially with a free kick that he caressed to the back of the box where Ethan Pye kept it going picking Barry out . A shot of some force followed but cleared the bar by a bit.

The pressure continued from County ……the corners…. but no goal until the 14th minute when Tayo Edun snaffled possession as a Stevenage move broke down. He was off down the left flank and then he wasn`t as he had been carted by a panicking Borough defender – down he went the ball heading for Osborn (with Referee Josh Smith earning kudos from me by allowing advantage). On it went inside to Barry and 1 characteristic drift to his right and it was 1-0 as he leathered the ball into the Stevenage net.

The moves were flowing from the blues now- Sidibeh and Norwood in combo but too heavy on the gas with their pass to the breaking Osborn.

Twice during the period midway through the half, Pye did vital work blocking incoming shots as Borough showed us a brief indication that they were not here to make up the numbers.

Then it was back to the lovely one touch football from County – a joy to watch- Sidibeh on the end of it all winning a corner with a shot on the turn. This went short and reached Odin Bailey ( a player playing out of his skin in close concert with the excellent Ollie Norwood) and in no time the ball was with Kyle Wootton who made light of the situation by doubling County`s advantage with a typically nerveless finish- wow what a player!

The Edgeley Park full house was `over the moon`….County had a vital 2-0 lead now, and kept their foot on the accelerator pedal-  Stokes unlucky …Bailey even more so as a shot later rounded off excellent work by Stokes again , but came back out off a defender on the line.

Addai contributed also….. twice …with really solid goalkeeping – his best a cool bit of work to deny Dan Phillips almost on half time.

It was 2-0 when the teams went in at the break, and that felt good!

………………………………

Tanto Olaofe was on for Sidibeh when the teams returned for the second half, which started with Carl Piergianni urging his team onto the front foot, but watching dolefully as his header ,3 minutes in, flew wide.

Dan Phillips looked to add to his captains work for Borough, putting County under pressure, but again foiled by the alert keeping of Corey Addai- who kept him from Jamie Reid`s return pass 3 minutes on from the last action.

It went on- Stevenage doing their best to please their following – Matt Phillips working hard…winning a corner , but this acted as a spring board for County to break up the park -Barry and Stokes route to goal blocked by typically determined Borough defending.

But County would not go away -their press continued- Tayo Edun seeing a shot deflected for a corner- Stokes going close from this but without reward- Dacres- Cogley joining the fray in combo with Barry but again for no reward other than the easing of any pressure on the blue back line.

Borough made multiple substitutions next- they were definitely making an effort now- making Addai again earn his pay cheque with a fine save to keep a goal bound effort from Charlie Goode out after the hour mark.

It was a good effort from Stevenage, but County were looking comfortable in their own skin in response- getting forward when they could – Norwood sending a crunchingly powerful drive heading for the top corner of Fillip Marschall`s net- only to be denied by a terrific save by the young keeper!

County kept their foot on the gas….driven on by Norwood….his free kick with around 20 minutes left, causing panic in the Borough box where the ball fizzed off Wootton`s head and came back again off the woodwork!

Louie Barry was replaced by Jack Diamond next and I will confess that I was a touch concerned seeing County forced further and further back by Borough`s forward push, and a rash of free kicks coming their way.

County were defending with considerable composure and looked OK, but seeing the action deeper and deeper into our territory only triggered historic concerns on my part- unfounded very likely but in my gene`s .

But Addai was still in there doing his job- making another vital contribution to keep a shot from Thompson out with 10 minutes left to play.

County now had Mothersille and Fiorini on for Stokes and Osborn, but Borough to their credit, kept trying to get something from the wreckage of their evening in SK3- Dan Kemp seeing a header fly over the County bar with 5 minutes left.

Mothersille, having been denied a penalty going down in the box a little earlier, looked on to score sent clear with 1 minute of normal time remaining to play. He had company, but had a definite chance to score, but he hesitated and the chance went the way of one or two more have gone for a player who the Cheadle End in particular are willing to do well!

It was not to be but ultimately did not matter- County had done the biz….the job required of them and booked another Wembley occasion one with the chance of joining the financial mad house that`s the Championship- we wouldn`t have it any other way would we- well done County !

 

Stockport County line up :-

 Addai, Dacres-Cogley, Wootton, Pye, Edun, Bailey (Andrésson 88), Norwood , Osborn (Fiorini 79), Stokes (Mothersille 79), Sidibeh (Olaofe 46), Barry (Diamond 69).

Unused Subs: Hinchliffe, Dixon.

 

Stevenage FC line up :-

Marschall , Houghton ( White  64), Piergianni , D Phillips( Patterson 64) , Kemp , Roberts ( James-Wildon 64), Earley , Goode , Pattenden ( Thompson 64), Reid , M Phillips ( Lubala 81).

Unused Subs:-Ashby- Hammond , Sweeney.

Attendance: 10,243 (1,051).

hedgegrower

 

@machinsports Crowd Shot Gallery .......