AFTER THE MATCH
📊 Stockport County 2-0 Stevenage (3-0 agg) — Barry and Wootton settled it inside 30 minutes; Stockport to Wembley. Read the match report.
📺 FROM THE DESK
Live commentary on Stockport County v Stevenage in the League One play-off semi-final second leg at Edgeley Park. Kick-off 20:00 BST. Stockport carry a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the Lamex on Saturday — a draw or a win tonight sends them to Wembley; Stevenage need a 1-0 win to force extra time, or to win by two or more to go through outright in regulation.
The pre-match preview — including the model’s regulation-90 read and the H2H season pattern — is here ↓
Edgeley Park, 1-0 in hand: Stockport defend, Stevenage attack
ARCHIVE Match commentary archive · 78 updates
SCORE2·0FT'
FTscore2-0
FTcommentStockport always looked in control of this one ever since going 2-0 up. Stevenage may have had the better chances second half however they didn't put their chances away and never really looked like scoring. They will face either Bradford or Bolton at Wembley for a place in the Championship
FTcommentStockport breeeze through against an insipid Stevenage.
90+3'fulltimeFull-time, 2-0, 3-0 agg, Stockport off to Wembley
90+2'comment3 minutes added
88'sub🔄 Odin Bailey makes way for Benoný Breki Andrésson
86'commentShot — Stevenage, Jamie Reid with a shot outside the box that goes wide
84'commentShot — Stevenage, good play around the box by Stevenage which eventually leads to Beryly Lubala chipping one in for Daniel Kemp who heads onto the roof of the net
83'commentSuch a flat performance from Stevenage never looked like getting into the game so far.
82'subBeryly Lubala on for Matt Phillips
80'sub🔄 Josh Stokes and Ben Osborn off for Malik Mothersille and Lewis Fiorini
79'commentShot — Stevenage, Stockport give it away to Luther James-Wildin and Jamie Reid backheels it to Matt Phillips who should do better with the shot in the box, hits it too close to Corey Addai
75'commentCorner — Stevenage
70'sub🔄 Jack Diamond replaces goalscorer Louie Barry
69'card🟨 Oliver Norwood, foul on Saxon Earley
68'card🟨 Free kick — Stockport County, far right, poor challenge by Daniel Kemp on Odin Bailey, deserved yellow
67'commentCorner — Stockport County
67'commentShot — Stockport County, what an effort that is by Oliver Norwood from miles out and he has forced a brilliant save by Filip Marschall
63'sub🔄 Also Phoenix Patterson on for Jordan Roberts
63'sub🔄 Jordan Houghton, Daniel Phillips, Jasper Pattenden make way for Harvey White, Louis Thompson and Luther James-Wildin
60'commentShot — Stevenage, Brilliant save by Corey Addai, brilliant ball by Matt Phillips to Charlie Goode who is open 6 yards out and somehow doesn't score, good save by Addai but Stevenage should have one back here
61'commentTerrible miss by Charlie Goode awful 3 yards out
55'commentCorner — Stockport County
54'commentBrilliant defending by Oliver Norwood in the middle to stop Stevenage having a tap in, leads to a Stevenage corner
53'commentShot — Stevenage, Charlie Goode almost out the stadium, it actually hit the digital scoreboard at Edgeley Park
49'commentShot — Stevenage, headed wide by Carl Piergianni
48'commentCorner — Stevenage
HTkickoffKick-off for the second half
HTsub🔄 Isaac Olaofe on for Adama Sidibeh
HTcommentDomination in the first half from Stockport at Edgeley Park giving themselves a 2-0 lead on the night and a 3-0 lead on aggregate that all but sees their place at Wembley. They have had 2 shots on target to 1 and 6 shots to 2, but Stockport have had far better quality in forward areas creating 0.6 xG to 0.1. Stevenage's only decent chance was towards the end of the half, where Daniel Phillips shot from the edge of the box but didn't have enough power on it to properly test Corey Addai, who has had pretty much nothing to do. Stockport just need to see the game out now and continue wearing down Stevenage.
HTcommentTerrible from bro Stockport not concerned at all .
45+2'halftimeHalf-time, 2-0, 3-0 Aggregate
45+1'comment1 minute added
44'commentShot — Stevenage, first shot on target for the visitors, Daniel Phillips chops onto his left foot, aims for the bottom corner but can't get any power on it to trouble Corey Addai
42'commentStockport still controlling this one
42'commentCeltic have made it 1-1 but still would remain 3 points behind Hearts having an inferior GD ahead of their final day clash with Hearts on Saturday
39'commentUpdate from around the grounds. In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic are losing 1-0 to Motherwell and Hearts are beating Falkirk 2-0 meaning as things stand, Hearts will win the Scottish Premiership title
35'commentShot — Stockport County, Odin Bailey cuts inside after more brilliant play, big block by Carl Piergianni
33'commentKyle Wootton — 18 league goals + One tonight. Stevenage's plan to stop him is failing miserably tonight.
33'commentWill go down as a Carl Piergianni own goal
29'commentpoor display from stevenage this
28'score2-0
28'goalOdin Bailey does brilliantly makes room for the cross and chips it in towards Kyle Wootton who hits it into the top corner brilliantly on the half volley. It may well be a Carl Piergianni own goal after a minor deflection
28'goal⚽ Goal, 2-0, 3-0 Aggregate and it is the makeshift CB Kyle Wootton
26'score2-0
24'commentCorner — Stockport County, won by Adama Sidibeh after brilliant passing and moving
24'commentStockport give it away and Stevenage apply a bit of pressure, can't create any chances though, still Stockport in control
18'commentFree kick — Stevenage, around halfway line
15'commentLong way back now for the Boro can't see them doing this on the performance so far tonight .
14'goalBrilliant run by Adetayo Edun on the left to take multiple Stevenage players out the game, the referee plays an advantage and Louie Barry finds space in the box and curls it into the top corner, top class finish from the Aston Villa loanee
14'score1-0
14'goal⚽ 1-0 Stockport, 2-0 on Aggregate, huge goal by Louie Barry
13'score1-0
13'commentCorner — Stevenage
10'commentFree kick — Stockport County, decent area, given away by Saxon Earley
6'commentCorner — Stockport County, brilliant start for Stockport. Brilliant football to win the corner by Oliver Norwood, Odin Bailey and Louie Barry
5'commentCorner — Stockport County
4'commentFirst 20 minutes — Stockport need to avoid an early Stevenage goal that flips the tie. Edgeley Park crowd will be loud; Stevenage tend to absorb pressure early then break.
4'commentJamie Reid — 14 goals; Stevenage's main outlet. If he doesn't get into the game, Stevenage are in trouble.
3'commentBig chance, Ben Osborn finds Louie Barry in a brilliant position 6 yards out, cushions it towards goal but there is a big block in there by Daniel Phillips
2'commentCorner — Stockport County
1'commentBen Osborn's winner in the 94th minute in the first leg was the first time a team won a League One play off semi final first leg in the 90th minute or later since Swindon vs Sheffield United in 2015
20:00kickoffKick-off
19:58commentThere were just 14 shots in the first leg of this play-off tie. It was the fewest shots in a Stockport game this season, while only one Stevenage game saw fewer (vs Cardiff)
19:57commentSince losing their first 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 4 tiers (W4, D3)
19:54commentStevenage only won two of their final 13 away games of the regular season (D3, L8). Since Christmas Day, only Rotherham (6) and Northampton (3) earned fewer away points in the division than Stevenage
19:53commentStockport lost 2 of their final 3 home games of the regular season, as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W8, D2, L2)
19:52commentEach of the last nine times the away side has won the League One play-off semi final, that side has gone on to reach Wembley with the last not to do so being Carlisle against Leeds in 2007-08 (won first leg 2-1 away, lost 2-0 at home)
19:51commentStevenage won their league visit 3-1 in December. As a professional side, Stevenage have never won away to the same side twice in the same season in all competitions
19:50commentAfter their 1-0 first leg win, Stockport could win successive football league games against Stevenage for the first ever time. The Hatters have never previously won both legs of a two-legged EFL play-off tie
19:47commentStevenage finished 6th in the regular season with 75 points. Only Lincoln (41) conceded more goals than them (46) this season in League One with Carl Piergianni and Charlie Goode being crucial. They haven't exactly been prolific, just scoring 49 goals, very low for a playoff side. 14 of those came from Jamie Reid with another 7 coming from Daniel Kemp.
19:44commentStockport finished 3rd in the regular season with 77 points. They did miss out on automatic although Cardiff and Lincoln always looked like running away with the top 2 spots. Their top scorer Kyle Wootton continues to play CB due to Stockport's injury woes in that position. Captain Oliver Norwood and Adama Sidibeh have 12 goals between them and Jack Diamond could be a useful player off the bench tonight, scoring 6 goals and providing 7 assists this season
19:39commentUpdate on Spygate earlier. The Southampton member of staff who allegedly spied on the Middlesbrough training ground a few days before their first leg playoff clash has been identified as William Salt and this image was released earlier. Southampton refused to comment on the image. They are through to the playoff final against Hull as it stands unless they are kicked out the play-offs by the Independent Disciplinary Commission.
19:35commentSetting the scene. Stockport come into the second leg with a slender 1-0 advantage after a last gasp winner after a rare defensive mix-up at the back for Stevenage. It was Ben Osborn who pounced on the mistake and tapped it home. Stevenage won both league games this season, including the game at Edgeley Park where they won 3-1 and at home they won 2-1.
19:26commentSTEVENAGE LINEUP - 2 changes both in midfield, Louis Thompson and Harvey White drop to the bench for Jordan Houghton and Daniel Phillips. Ahadme, Chem Campbell, Harry Cornick and Lewis Freestone remain out.
19:23commentStevenage Starting Lineup - Bench: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Luther James-Wildin, Beryly Lubala, Phoenix Patterson, Dan Sweeney, Louis Thompson, Harvey White
19:16commentSTOCKPORT LINEUP - No changes made, Callum Camps, Callum Connolly, Brad Hills, Joseph Olowu, Tyler Onyango all remain out meaning Kyle Wootton, Stockport's top scorer, will have to stay centre-back
19:10commentStockport Starting Lineup - Ben Hinchliffe, Jack Diamond, Isaac Olaofe, Malik Mothersille, Roman Dixon, Lewis Fiorini, Benoný Breki Andrésson
Match commentary timeline
Auto-generated from live commentary. 75 entries between kickoff and full-time.
1′ comment Ben Osborn’s winner in the 94th minute in the first leg was the first time a team won a League One play off semi final first leg in the 90th minute or later since Swindon vs Sheffield United in 2015
2′ comment Corner — Stockport County
3′ comment Big chance, Ben Osborn finds Louie Barry in a brilliant position 6 yards out, cushions it towards goal but there is a big block in there by Daniel Phillips
4′ comment Jamie Reid — 14 goals; Stevenage’s main outlet. If he doesn’t get into the game, Stevenage are in trouble.
4′ comment First 20 minutes — Stockport need to avoid an early Stevenage goal that flips the tie. Edgeley Park crowd will be loud; Stevenage tend to absorb pressure early then break.
5′ comment Corner — Stockport County
6′ comment Corner — Stockport County, brilliant start for Stockport. Brilliant football to win the corner by Oliver Norwood, Odin Bailey and Louie Barry
10′ comment Free kick — Stockport County, decent area, given away by Saxon Earley
13′ comment Corner — Stevenage
13′ score 1-0
14′ goal ⚽ 1-0 Stockport, 2-0 on Aggregate, huge goal by Louie Barry
14′ score 1-0
14′ goal Brilliant run by Adetayo Edun on the left to take multiple Stevenage players out the game, the referee plays an advantage and Louie Barry finds space in the box and curls it into the top corner, top class finish from the Aston Villa loanee
15′ comment Long way back now for the Boro can’t see them doing this on the performance so far tonight .
18′ comment Free kick — Stevenage, around halfway line
24′ comment Stockport give it away and Stevenage apply a bit of pressure, can’t create any chances though, still Stockport in control
24′ comment Corner — Stockport County, won by Adama Sidibeh after brilliant passing and moving
26′ score 2-0
28′ goal ⚽ Goal, 2-0, 3-0 Aggregate and it is the makeshift CB Kyle Wootton
28′ goal Odin Bailey does brilliantly makes room for the cross and chips it in towards Kyle Wootton who hits it into the top corner brilliantly on the half volley. It may well be a Carl Piergianni own goal after a minor deflection
28′ score 2-0
29′ comment poor display from stevenage this
33′ comment Will go down as a Carl Piergianni own goal
33′ comment Kyle Wootton — 18 league goals + One tonight. Stevenage’s plan to stop him is failing miserably tonight.
35′ comment Shot — Stockport County, Odin Bailey cuts inside after more brilliant play, big block by Carl Piergianni
39′ comment Update from around the grounds. In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic are losing 1-0 to Motherwell and Hearts are beating Falkirk 2-0 meaning as things stand, Hearts will win the Scottish Premiership title
42′ comment Celtic have made it 1-1 but still would remain 3 points behind Hearts having an inferior GD ahead of their final day clash with Hearts on Saturday
42′ comment Stockport still controlling this one
44′ comment Shot — Stevenage, first shot on target for the visitors, Daniel Phillips chops onto his left foot, aims for the bottom corner but can’t get any power on it to trouble Corey Addai
HT comment Terrible from bro Stockport not concerned at all .
HT comment Domination in the first half from Stockport at Edgeley Park giving themselves a 2-0 lead on the night and a 3-0 lead on aggregate that all but sees their place at Wembley. They have had 2 shots on target to 1 and 6 shots to 2, but Stockport have had far better quality in forward areas creating 0.6 xG to 0.1. Stevenage’s only decent chance was towards the end of the half, where Daniel Phillips shot from the edge of the box but didn’t have enough power on it to properly test Corey Addai, who has had pretty much nothing to do. Stockport just need to see the game out now and continue wearing down Stevenage.
HT sub 🔄 Isaac Olaofe on for Adama Sidibeh
HT kickoff Kick-off for the second half
45+1′ comment 1 minute added
45+2′ halftime Half-time, 2-0, 3-0 Aggregate
48′ comment Corner — Stevenage
49′ comment Shot — Stevenage, headed wide by Carl Piergianni
53′ comment Shot — Stevenage, Charlie Goode almost out the stadium, it actually hit the digital scoreboard at Edgeley Park
54′ comment Brilliant defending by Oliver Norwood in the middle to stop Stevenage having a tap in, leads to a Stevenage corner
55′ comment Corner — Stockport County
60′ comment Shot — Stevenage, Brilliant save by Corey Addai, brilliant ball by Matt Phillips to Charlie Goode who is open 6 yards out and somehow doesn’t score, good save by Addai but Stevenage should have one back here
61′ comment Terrible miss by Charlie Goode awful 3 yards out
63′ sub 🔄 Jordan Houghton, Daniel Phillips, Jasper Pattenden make way for Harvey White, Louis Thompson and Luther James-Wildin
63′ sub 🔄 Also Phoenix Patterson on for Jordan Roberts
67′ comment Shot — Stockport County, what an effort that is by Oliver Norwood from miles out and he has forced a brilliant save by Filip Marschall
67′ comment Corner — Stockport County
68′ card 🟨 Free kick — Stockport County, far right, poor challenge by Daniel Kemp on Odin Bailey, deserved yellow
69′ card 🟨 Oliver Norwood, foul on Saxon Earley
70′ sub 🔄 Jack Diamond replaces goalscorer Louie Barry
75′ comment Corner — Stevenage
79′ comment Shot — Stevenage, Stockport give it away to Luther James-Wildin and Jamie Reid backheels it to Matt Phillips who should do better with the shot in the box, hits it too close to Corey Addai
80′ sub 🔄 Josh Stokes and Ben Osborn off for Malik Mothersille and Lewis Fiorini
82′ sub Beryly Lubala on for Matt Phillips
83′ comment Such a flat performance from Stevenage never looked like getting into the game so far.
84′ comment Shot — Stevenage, good play around the box by Stevenage which eventually leads to Beryly Lubala chipping one in for Daniel Kemp who heads onto the roof of the net
86′ comment Shot — Stevenage, Jamie Reid with a shot outside the box that goes wide
88′ sub 🔄 Odin Bailey makes way for Benoný Breki Andrésson
90+2′ comment 3 minutes added
90+3′ fulltime Full-time, 2-0, 3-0 agg, Stockport off to Wembley
comment Stockport Starting Lineup – Ben Hinchliffe, Jack Diamond, Isaac Olaofe, Malik Mothersille, Roman Dixon, Lewis Fiorini, Benoný Breki Andrésson
comment STOCKPORT LINEUP – No changes made, Callum Camps, Callum Connolly, Brad Hills, Joseph Olowu, Tyler Onyango all remain out meaning Kyle Wootton, Stockport’s top scorer, will have to stay centre-back
comment Stevenage Starting Lineup – Bench: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Luther James-Wildin, Beryly Lubala, Phoenix Patterson, Dan Sweeney, Louis Thompson, Harvey White
comment STEVENAGE LINEUP – 2 changes both in midfield, Louis Thompson and Harvey White drop to the bench for Jordan Houghton and Daniel Phillips. Ahadme, Chem Campbell, Harry Cornick and Lewis Freestone remain out.
comment Setting the scene. Stockport come into the second leg with a slender 1-0 advantage after a last gasp winner after a rare defensive mix-up at the back for Stevenage. It was Ben Osborn who pounced on the mistake and tapped it home. Stevenage won both league games this season, including the game at Edgeley Park where they won 3-1 and at home they won 2-1.
comment Update on Spygate earlier. The Southampton member of staff who allegedly spied on the Middlesbrough training ground a few days before their first leg playoff clash has been identified as William Salt and this image was released earlier. Southampton refused to comment on the image. They are through to the playoff final against Hull as it stands unless they are kicked out the play-offs by the Independent Disciplinary Commission.
comment Stockport finished 3rd in the regular season with 77 points. They did miss out on automatic although Cardiff and Lincoln always looked like running away with the top 2 spots. Their top scorer Kyle Wootton continues to play CB due to Stockport’s injury woes in that position. Captain Oliver Norwood and Adama Sidibeh have 12 goals between them and Jack Diamond could be a useful player off the bench tonight, scoring 6 goals and providing 7 assists this season
comment Stevenage finished 6th in the regular season with 75 points. Only Lincoln (41) conceded more goals than them (46) this season in League One with Carl Piergianni and Charlie Goode being crucial. They haven’t exactly been prolific, just scoring 49 goals, very low for a playoff side. 14 of those came from Jamie Reid with another 7 coming from Daniel Kemp.
comment After their 1-0 first leg win, Stockport could win successive football league games against Stevenage for the first ever time. The Hatters have never previously won both legs of a two-legged EFL play-off tie
comment Stevenage won their league visit 3-1 in December. As a professional side, Stevenage have never won away to the same side twice in the same season in all competitions
comment Each of the last nine times the away side has won the League One play-off semi final, that side has gone on to reach Wembley with the last not to do so being Carlisle against Leeds in 2007-08 (won first leg 2-1 away, lost 2-0 at home)
comment Stockport lost 2 of their final 3 home games of the regular season, as many as their previous 12 beforehand (W8, D2, L2)
comment Stevenage only won two of their final 13 away games of the regular season (D3, L8). Since Christmas Day, only Rotherham (6) and Northampton (3) earned fewer away points in the division than Stevenage
comment Since losing their first 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 4 tiers (W4, D3)
comment There were just 14 shots in the first leg of this play-off tie. It was the fewest shots in a Stockport game this season, while only one Stevenage game saw fewer (vs Cardiff)
kickoff Kick-off
