STOCKPORT MAKE IT FIFTH TIME LUCKY TO GAIN PROMOTION TO LEAGUE ONE
Anthony Pilkington and Liam Dickinson were Stockport County’s heroes as their team defeated north-west rivals Rochdale 3-2 at Wembley to gain promotion to League One. It was the first time in five attempts that the Cheshire-based club had succeeded on the hallowed turf in north-west London.
After an absence of three years Country now return to the third tier while Rochdale remain in League Two, where they have been for 34 successive seasons – longer than any other club. Rochdale have enjoyed promotion only once in their history – in 1969, the same year current manager, former Blackburn Rovers defender, Keith Hill was born.
In their first trip to Wembley, and under the gaze of a crowd of 36,000, they could not halt that unwanted record, despite opening the scoring through Rory McArdle after 24 minutes. Stockport had the better of the early exchanges, but the 21-year-old defender nodded in Kallum Higginbotham’s corner past Conrad Logan at the front post.
Ten minutes later Stockport levelled through Nathan Stanton’s own goal. From a short corner Tommy Rowe swung over a teasing cross from the right, and the defender could only deflect the ball past his own ‘keeper.
It took just four minutes of the second half for Jim Gannon’s team, who defeated Rochdale both times in the regular season, to go into the lead, through the impressive Pilkington.
Michael Rose fizzed in a low cross which was missed by the Rochdale back line and skilfully steered under the bar by the 19-year-old forward.
Twenty-three minutes before the final whistle Liam Dickinson showed good strength to swivel and score his 21st goal of the season to make it 3-1 to Gannon’s side.
Adam Rundle pulled one back for Rochdale to set up a tense final 13 minutes, but Stockport held on. There may only be 20 miles between the two clubs, but now a league separates them.
Anthony Pilkington and Liam Dickinson were Stockport County’s heroes as their team defeated north-west rivals Rochdale 3-2 at Wembley to gain promotion to League One. It was the first time in five attempts that the Cheshire-based club had succeeded on the hallowed turf in north-west London.
After an absence of three years Country now return to the third tier while Rochdale remain in League Two, where they have been for 34 successive seasons – longer than any other club. Rochdale have enjoyed promotion only once in their history – in 1969, the same year current manager, former Blackburn Rovers defender, Keith Hill was born.
In their first trip to Wembley, and under the gaze of a crowd of 36,000, they could not halt that unwanted record, despite opening the scoring through Rory McArdle after 24 minutes. Stockport had the better of the early exchanges, but the 21-year-old defender nodded in Kallum Higginbotham’s corner past Conrad Logan at the front post.
Ten minutes later Stockport levelled through Nathan Stanton’s own goal. From a short corner Tommy Rowe swung over a teasing cross from the right, and the defender could only deflect the ball past his own ‘keeper.
It took just four minutes of the second half for Jim Gannon’s team, who defeated Rochdale both times in the regular season, to go into the lead, through the impressive Pilkington.
Michael Rose fizzed in a low cross which was missed by the Rochdale back line and skilfully steered under the bar by the 19-year-old forward.
Twenty-three minutes before the final whistle Liam Dickinson showed good strength to swivel and score his 21st goal of the season to make it 3-1 to Gannon’s side.
Adam Rundle pulled one back for Rochdale to set up a tense final 13 minutes, but Stockport held on. There may only be 20 miles between the two clubs, but now a league separates them.
Labels: Jim Gannon, League One, League Two, play-offs, Rochdale, Stockport County
