‘LET’S TAKE STOCK.. THEN WE GO AGAIN’
NATIONAL LEAGUE FINAL DAY
DAVE CHALLINOR immediately targeted back-to-back promotions after Stockport’s 11-year exile from the Football League came to an end.
Paddy Madden and Will Collar (bottom) scored as County beat Halifax 2-0 to clinch the National League title and promotion to League Two.
The Hatters were in 10th spot when manager Challinor (right) – who steered Hartlepool to promotion last season – took charge in November.
But after overcoming some end-of-season jitters, the final-day win ensured Stockport (celebrating the title, top) held off the challenge of Wrexham to top the table.
Challinor said: “It’s brilliant to get it over the line and a huge achievement. But hopefully it’s the first step of many.
“It’s a town deserving of a Football League club. They’ve got that now. This is the start. The first step, the toughest step.
“And the challenge now becomes competing again next year because the ambition is the same. We want to get promoted from League Two. Big statement, but that’s where we want to be.”
He added: “We’ll have a huge couple of nights, hopefully. I’m looking forward to enjoying tonight with the players. And tomorrow. And hopefully the next few nights. And then we can reflect and look forward to next season.”
Wrexham’s title challenge came to a halt at Dagenham & Redbridge where goals from Junior Morais, Paul McCallum and Matt Robinson completed a 3-0 home win.
Dragons boss Phil Parkinson said: “Stockport’s second goal filtering around the place knocked the wind out of our sails.
“Today wasn’t our day, but we’ve got some big games coming up now in the play-offs.
“It’s not what we wanted, but it’s the next best option.” Chesterfield’s draw with Woking kept the Spireites in seventh and denied Dagenham a play-off spot.
Solihull Moors won 3-0 at Boreham Wood thanks to goals from Kyle Hudlin, Joe Sbarra and Adam Rooney to keep hold of third spot ahead of Halifax.
Fifth-placed Notts County won 1-0 at Maidenhead, while Grimsby finished in sixth after Emmanuel Dieseruvwe scored a hat-trick in a 4-4 draw at Eastleigh.