Injury-stricken Stockport County book place in another playoff final at Wembley

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Stockport County league one playoff final 2026

A somewhat makeshift Stockport County squad have booked themselves yet another trip to Wembley in the League One playoff final following a comfortable second leg win over Stevenage FC.

They did it with two fine finishes, as well.

Beating Stevenage 3-0 overall on aggregate, the Hatters secured a third visit to the capital under manager Dave Challinor, who continues to boast an impressive record of either promotion or reaching the knockout stages in almost every single year of his career as a coach.

With three-time Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry opening the scoring with a fine finish and top scorer-turned centre-half, Kyle Wootton, getting back on the scoresheet, even from defence, it was a night to remember for supporters in SK3.

Two great goals indeed.

With Barry having not only come back to the club for yet another loan spell but having quickly returned to form after scoring yet another big and important goal for County, not to mention a first senior career hat-trick in a 3-1 against Peterborough back in April, he was one of the stars on the night.

Meanwhile, Wootton – who was leading the race in terms of goalscoring before numerous defensive injuries saw him moved to centre-back (now several games into his run at the heart of the backline) – still proved to be a threat in the opposition box via set-pieces as he has done all season.

Barring a slightly fortunate deflection, some fans may have argued it was an even better take than the opener from the 22-year-old. He received praise from fellow former striker and veteran EFL player, Troy Deeney, after the match.

Speaking from an ex-pro and now manager’s perspective, he applauded the 29-year-old’s “ego check” and willingness to effectively give up the race for the golden boot, telling CBS Sports: “I don’t know a striker that I’ve ever met that would do that.”

But here’s what it means…

As for Challinor, the gaffer praised the Edgeley Park crowd, crediting them for keeping the energy up in and around some lulls in the game and resisting the slip into complacency.

Thanking them in a video on social media following the full-time whistle, Barry acknowledged them as “the 12th man”, with Wootton urging them to get behind the boys for “one more” game as they aim to “get the job done.”

Stockport County will face either Bradford City or local Greater Manchester rivals Bolton Wanderers in the third-tier conclusion, with the other semi-final kicking off at 8pm tonight. Who do you think is going to go all the way?

You can see the highlights from the decisive game down below.

Do you think they’ll make it over the line?

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Featured Images — CBS Sports (screenshot)/Stop in Stockport (via X)

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